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The  Foundations  of  Mormonism 


Lieut.  General  Joseph  Smith,  Jr. 

Prophet   and    Founder   of   Mornionism. 


The  Foundations  of 
Mormonism 


A  Study  of  the  Fundamental  Facts 
in  the  History  and  Doctrines  of  the 
Mormons    from   Original   Sources 


By, 

WILLIAM  EARL  LA  RUE,  b.  D. 


With  Introduction  by 
ALFRED  WILLIAMS  ANTHONY,  D.  D. 


New  York  Chicago 

Fleming     H.     Revell     Company 

London  and  Edinburgh 


Copyright,  19 19,  by 
FLEMING  H.  REVELL  COMPANY 


Published  for  the  Home  Mission's 
Council  and  the  Council  of 
Women      for     Home     Missions. 


New  York:  158  Fifth  Avenue 
Chicago :  1 7  North  Wabash  Ave. 
London:  21  Paternoster  Square 
Edinburgh;      75     Princes     Street 


Introduction 

CONTEOVERSIAL  writings  seldom  ac- 
complish much  good;  but  judicial  in- 
vestigations, which  discover  and  dis- 
close facts,  in  a  spirit  of  justice  and  courtesy, 
are  worthy  of,  and  usually  receive  a  fair  hear- 
ing. This  book  is  a  judicial  essay  in  the  domain 
of  candid  history. 

The  author  has  discovered  and  here  brought 
together  matter  from  original  documents  bear- 
ing on  the  origin  and  history  of  all  branches  of 
the  Mormon  Church.  The  authenticity  and 
very  existence  of  some  of  these  documents  have 
been  denied.  The  facts  and  verbiage  of  others, 
which  have  been  given  to  the  i)ublic,  have  been 
so  garbled  as  to  misrepresent  the  originals  and 
utterly  mislead  those  reading  them. 

The  facts  herewith  presented  are  such  that 
they  must  be  either  accepted  or  disproved — a 
simple  denial,  no  matter  how  earnest  or  con- 
scientious will  not  suface. 

Owing  to  the  active  propaganda  of  Mormon- 
ism  there  has  been  a  pressing  demand  for  such 
a  work  as  this.    It  is  hoped  that  this  book  will 

5 


6  INTRODUCTION 

meet  a  real  public  need  because  of  the  accuracy 
and  reliability  of  the  matter  set  forth. 

The  book  is  designed  to  meet  the  needs  of 
Christian  workers  who  come  in  contact  with 
Mormon  proselyting  activities  and  supply  them 
with  practical  information. 

This  work  should  also  appeal  to  the  intelli- 
gent class  among  the  Mormons.  If  the  founda- 
tions upon  which  Mormonism  is  built  are  un- 
stable, none  should  be  so  concerned  as  the  Mor- 
mons themselves.  This  the  author  has,  in  no 
spirit  of  bitterness,  endeavoured  to  show.  The 
results  of  his  earnest  and  patient  study  he  here 
sets  down  for  the  consideration  of  others  and  it 
is  with  pleasure  that  we  commend  the  book  to 
those  interested. 

Alfred  Willlajvis  Anthony. 

Executive  Secretary 
Home  Missions  Council. 


Contents 


Preface 1} 

The  character  of  Mormonism — 
Built  about  the  personality  of 
Joseph  Smith  its  founder — A  re- 
ligious and  political  autocracy — 
The  sects  of  Mormonism — The 
importance  of  historical  consid- 
erations— A  challenge  and  its 
acceptance. 

I.  Mormon  History  .        .        .        .      19 

The  movements  and  chief 
events  from  the  birth  of  the 
founder  in  1805  to  his  death  in 
1844 — Necessity  for  careful  re- 
consideration of  the  historical 
sources — Tendency  to  edit  the 
sources  in  present  day  accounts 
of  the  formative  period — Under 
Smith  the  Church  was  restless 
— Under  Young  it  settled  down 
to  one  location — The  Reorgan- 
ized Church  a  modified  form  of 
Mormonism. 

II.  Joseph  Smith,  Jr 41 

The  conviction  that  he  was  a 
true  Prophet  of  Jehovah — 
Reared  in  an  atmosphere  of 
superstition — Like  Mohammed 
— Outbreaks  of  fanaticisms  in 
history  —  Smith's  extravagant 
claims — Some  of  his  prophecies 
— Holding  political  offices — 
Followers  lose  faith  in  him — 
His  inner  life — His  use  of  mys- 
tery— Mormonism,  the  religion 
of  a  man. 

7 


8  CONTEJ^TS 

III.  '* The  Book  OF  Mormon'^     ...      62 

Chief  sacred  book — Smith's  ac- 
count of  its  origin — Its  claim 
to  be  in  fulfillment  of  Bible 
prophecy — The  testimony  of  the 
"witnesses"  —  Strange  corre- 
sponding events — Rival  methods 
of  interpretation  —  Appearance 
of  Angels  under  various  con- 
ditions—  Smith's  denunciation 
of  the  "  witnesses  " — The  book, 
a  fabrication  reflecting  current 
moral  and  religious  issues  of 
its  time  and  locality — Quota- 
tions from  Scripture — Later  edi- 
tions changed — Its  failure  to  fill 
its  own  defined  purpose — Its 
teaching  a  source  of  contention 
— It  was  produced  in  a  corner. 

IV.  ** The  Book  OF  Commandments"    .        .      83 

Smith's  revelations  in  print — 
Superseded  by  the  book  Doc- 
trine and  Covenants — many  rev- 
elations changed — Apologies  for 
these  changes — The  changed 
revelations  in  contrast — Proof 
that  they  were  in  book  form — 
The  language  alarms  the  Mis- 
sourians. 

V.  **The    Book    of    Doctrine    and    Cove- 

nants"       03 

Contains  the  revised  revela- 
tions of  Smith— Separate  edi- 
tions by  the  Utah,  and  the  Re- 
organized Church  —  "Carefully 
selected  "  revelations  —  Manner 
of  receiving  revelations — Gen- 
eral teaching  of  the  book  inter- 
mixed with  schemes  revealing 
deception — Smith's  use  of  reve- 
lation to  attain  personal  advan- 
tage— Growth  of  Mysticism — 
Baptism    for    the    dead — Origin 


CONTENTS  9 

of  the  secret  endowment  cere- 
monies— Some  of  the  excluded 
revelations. 

VI.  "  Book  OF  Abraham  "     .        .        .        .11$ 

Accepted  only  by  the  Utah 
Church — Its  origin  —  Genuine 
product  of  the  pen  of  Joseph 
Smith — Evaded  by  the  Reor- 
ganized Church  —  Polytheistic 
teaching— Bishop  Spalding  uses 
this  as  test  of  Smith's  inspira- 
tional powers — Opinions  of 
scholars — A  vital  blow  to  Mor- 
monism — The  inconsistency  of 
the  Reorganized  Church  in  re- 
fusing it. 

VII.  The  Holy  Scriptures    .        .        .        .125 

Smith  attempts  a  translation  of 
the  Scriptures  by  revelation — 
Finished  in  1833  but  not  pub- 
lished until  1867 — Accepted  only 
by  the  Reorganized  Church- 
Methods  employed — The  new 
translation  is  made  to  read  in 
support  of  Smith's  pretensions 
— A  test  of  his  inspiration — Dis- 
regarded by  modern  scholarship 
— Mormon  preachers  use  it 
rarely. 

VIII.  Mormon  Doctrines        .        .        .        .136 

Summarized  by  Smith — Most 
important  doctrines  not  in- 
cluded— Doctrines  in  the  mak- 
ing—Charismatic gifts  tested — 
Smith's  successors  give  revela- 
tions— Few  revelations  in  later 
history  of  Mormonism — Prac- 
tical genius  more  successful. 

IX.  Mormon  Organization   .        .        .        .     i$i 

Great  in  number  and  variety — 
Hierarchy  headed  by  the  Proph- 
et— Two      priesthoods  —  Nearly 


10  CONTENTS 

every  male  member  a  priest  of 
some  grade — Recruits  mostly 
from  evangelical  churches — Its 
dealing  with  material  wealth — 
Its  political  power — Smith  a 
King — Aspires  to  be  President 
of  the  United  States — Mormon 
domination  in  Illinois — In  Utah. 


X.         Missouri's  Defense        .        .        .        .160 

Why  did  the  State  expel  the 
Mormons? — The  State  published 
the  facts  upon  which  it  based 
its  action  in  1841 — Facts  given 
by  leading  Mormons — The  or- 
ganization of  the  Danites  to 
commit  depredations  on  its  citi- 
zens brought  about  the  charge 
of  high  treason — The  attack 
upon  the  State  Militia  by  the 
Mormons  and  the  appeals  of 
citizens  for  protection  against 
them  induced  the  Governor  to 
issue  the  order  to  exterminate, 
or  drive  them  from  the  State — 
Mormons  drove  out  Mormons 
by  threat  of  vengeance — The 
threat  of  extermination  came 
first  from  the  Mormons — Their 
conduct  c©ulcl  not  be  tolerated 
in  a  free  State — This  State  docu- 
ment known  but  to  few. 


XI.  Gathering  to  Zion  .  .  .  .179 
A  leading  principle  of  Mormon- 
ism — Winning  arguments  from 
Scripture  and  social  inequalities 
— Failure  at  Independence, 
Missouri,  in  1833 — Failure  at 
Far  West,  Missouri,  in  1838 — 
Failure  at  Nauvoo,  Illinois,  in 
1844 — A  fruitful  opportunity 
for  Mormon  leaders  to  exploit 
their  followers. 


CONTENTS  11 

XII.  The  Nauvoo  Expositor         .        .        .193 

Brought  about  greatest  crisis  in 
Mormonism  —  Leading  Mor- 
mons tell  the  world  the  secrets 
of  inner  iniquity — Facts  concern- 
ing covered  over — The  evils 
recited  in  a  set  of  resolutions — 
Smith  influences  the  City  Coun- 
cil to  demolish  the  press — The 
chief  cause  of  Smith's  death. 

XIII.  Mormon  Polygamy        .        .        .        .205 

Subject  of  controversy  among 
Mormons — Utah  Church  defends 
— Reorganized  Church  repu- 
diates— Its  origin  with  Prophet 
Smith  shown  by  affidavits  in 
the  Expositor  and  his  admis- 
sions as  given  in  the  Nauvoo 
Neighbor  recently  discovered — 
The  facts  covered  and  not 
widely  known — Revelation  re- 
ferred to  by  Smith  in  exact  ac- 
cord with  that  found  in  Utah 
Church's  books — Admissions  by 
the  son  and  namesake  of  the 
Prophet — Denials  of  polygamy 
repeated — Made  for  a  purpose — 
The  statement  of  the  Prophet's 
wife  cannot  be  credited  in  the 
light  of  printed  statements  at 
the  time — In  early  days  of  Re- 
organized Church  its  leading 
men  admitted  what  is  now  de- 
nied— the  books  of  Mormonism 
may  be  interpreted  as  teaching 
polygamy — The  doctrine  came 
in  by  falsehood  and  deceit — 
The  Reorganized  Church  would 
shun  the  shame — The  Utah 
Church  bears  it  as  the  leading 
of  the  Prophet. 

Conclusion 23$ 

Bibliography 240 


Preface 

THE  groundwork  of  this  book  was  pre- 
sented to  the  Faculty  of  the  Kochester 
Theological  Seminary,  as  a  thesis,  by 
the  author  in  candidacy  for  the  degree  of 
Bachelor  of  Divinity. 

The  work  was  done  under  the  tutelage  of  the 
late  Doctor  Walter  Eauschenbusch,  Professor 
of  Church  History. 

The  author  has  prepared  the  thesis  for  pub- 
lication for  the  following  reasons.  First,  the 
Faculty  were  of  the  opinion  that  the  thesis  was 
a  real  contribution  to  the  literature  on  Mor- 
monism  and  advised  its  publication.  Second, 
the  author  believes  there  exists  a  need  for  such 
a  book  as  this.  There  is  a  vast  amount  of 
literature  on  the  subject  of  Mormonism;  but 
many  volumes  are  defective  in  that  they  fail  to 
give  a  sufficient  treatment  of  things  which  are 
fundamental. 

The  subject  of  Mormonism  has  been  a  matter 
of  increasing  public  interest  for  several  years. 
It  is  very  likely  to  continue  so  in  years  to  come. 
The  busy  person  needs  guidance  in  obtaining 

13 


14    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

correct  information  regarding  this  new  system 
of  religion.  For  this  purpose  we  have  endeav- 
ored to  deal  only  with  fundamental  things,  and 
in  the  briefest  manner  possible. 

Mormon  missionaries  are  very  active  propa- 
gandists and  this  book  will  supx)ly  very  valuable 
information  to  any  person  who  is  considering 
the  acceptance  of  Mormonism  as  a  religion. 
The  people  have  the  right  to  know  the  facts  here 
presented.  There  is  a  lamentable  amount  of 
ignorance  on  the  part  of  the  general  public  con- 
cerning this  subject.  The  ignorance  of  the 
Mormons  concerning  the  fundamental  facts  of 
their  religion  is  astounding. 

This  book  is  published  with  the  firm  convic- 
tion that  it  will  prove  to  be  a  valuable  and 
practical  help  to  all  who  are  interested.  It  is 
not  to  be  construed  as  an  unsympathetic  attack 
upon  the  Mormon  people.  Many  of  the  Mor- 
mons are  known  to  be  devout  and  sincere  in 
their  faith;  many  of  them  possess  a  goodly 
degree  of  moral  character. 

The  author  honestly  believes  that  Mormonism 
is  false  in  its  fundamental  claims  and  deceptive 
in  its  character,  and,  notwithstanding  this,  he 
has  made  a  conscious  effort  to  deal  with  the  mat- 
ter in  a  spirit  that  would  commend  itself  to  all. 

Mormonism  is  a  new  religion.  It  is  one  of 
the  many  sects  that  arose  in  the  nineteenth 
century.    It  is  purely  an  American  product 


PEEFACE  15 

possessing  great  vitality  and  surviving  power. 
As  a  religion  it  is  syncretistic  in  character.  It 
blends  within  itself  a  mixture  of  ideas,  ijrin- 
ciples,  emotions,  and  crude  conceptions  of 
American  frontier  life  of  an  hundred  years  ago. 
As  it  has  grown  it  has  added  many  new  and 
strange  practices. 

It  belongs  outside  the  historical  stream  flow- 
ing out  of  the  religious  life  of  past  generations. 
From  the  beginning  it  disclaimed  connection 
with  all  other  forms  of  religion.  It  denounces 
all  other  creeds  as  wrong  and  all  other  profess- 
ors of  religion  as  corrupt. 

It  claims  to  be  the  one  and  only  true  faith. 
It  claims  to  be  Christian,  although  there  has 
been  no  fellowship  with  it  on  the  part  of  any 
Christian  denomination.  It  is  a  religious  and 
political  autocracy.  It  is  clannish,  selfish,  and 
uncompromising.  Like  Mohammedanism  it 
stands  alone. 

It  has  contributed  a  sad  and  unfortunate 
chapter  in  the  history  of  the  United  States.  It 
has  been  a  constant  source  of  annoyance  to  the 
government,  by  reason  of  its  colonizing  schemes, 
its  unchristian  practices,  its  political  power, 
and  concentrated  wealth. 

Its  aggressive  missionary  policy  has  brought 
it  into  open  conflict  with  all  Christian  Churches. 
The  recruits  for  Mormonism  have  come  largely 
from  the  membership  of  these  Churches. 


16    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

As  Mormonism  has  grown,  it  has  developed 
sects  and  factions  within  itself.  The  two 
principal  sects  are:  "The  Church  of  Jesus 
Christ  of  Latter  Day  Saints," — ^with  head- 
quarters in  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah, — and  "The 
Eeorganized  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Latter 
Day  Saints,'^ — with  headquarters  in  Lamoni, 
Iowa.' 

There  is  no  fellowship  between  these  sects. 
The  Eeorganized  Church  is  anti-polygamous  in 
belief,  and  it  has  persistently  endeavored  to 
vindicate  Joseph  Smith,  the  founder  of  Mormon- 
ism, from  complicity  in  the  introduction  of  that 
nefarious  doctrine. 

This  book  proceeds  upon  the  assumption  that 
no  institution  can  ever  detach  itself  from  its 
historical  connections.  If  Mormonism  is  false 
and  deceptive,  as  we  believe  it  to  be,  the  facts 
in  proof  of  such  a  conviction  can  most  effectu- 
ally be  gleaned  from  its  history  and  funda- 
mental affirmations.  In  short,  it  is  the  his- 
torical method  that  we  are  here  attempting 
to  use. 

The  author  has  spent  much  time  in  a  diligent 
study  of  the  earliest  literature  pertaining  to 
Mormonism,  in  order  to  discover  its  real  char- 
acter. In  addition  to  this,  the  author  speaks 
out  of  personal  experience  and  acquaintance 

1  These  sects  will  hereinafter  be  referred  to  as,  « The  Utah 
Church  "  and  "  The  Reorganized  Church." 


PEEFACE  17 

with  the  people  and  the  teachings  of  the  Mor- 
mon system. 

He  appeals,  especially,  to  the  young  and  ris- 
ing generations  of  the  Mormon  people,  to  seri- 
ously consider  the  facts  set  forth  in  this  book 
and  to  resolve  to  be  guided  by  the  truth  regard- 
less of  cost. 

On  the  front  of  the  New  York  City  Public 
Library  may  be  seen  the  following  inscription 
chiselled  in  the  white  marble : 

^^  But  Above  All  Things   Truth  Beareth 
Away  the  Victory/' 

It  was  from  within  this  great  library,  from 
the  wonderful  collection  of  old  and  original 
documents  relating  to  Mormonism,  that  the 
principal  materials  for  this  book  were  gathered. 
Truth  will  bear  away  the  victory  for  all  who 
will  exercise  discernment  to  discover  her;  she 
will  lighten  the  way  for  all  who  have  the  cour- 
age to  follow  in  her  light. 

Mormonism  has  always  been  opposed  and  it 
is  highly  probable  that  it  ever  will  be.  There 
must  be  some  reason  for  this.  The  Mormons 
will  attempt  to  account  for  it  on  the  basis  of 
religious  persecution.  A  study  of  the  follow- 
ing pages  will  show  that  the  opposition  against 
Mormonism  has  been  because  of  the  extrava- 
gance of  its  claims,  its  fanaticism,  its  immoral, 
and  unchristian  practices. 


18    THE  FOUNDATIOl^S  OF  MOEMOKISM 

One  of  the  Mormon  leaders  has  recently  indi- 
cated how  the  Mormons  may  be  impressed  by 
outside  influences.    He  says : 

*  *  You  can  only  reach  them  by  showing  them  some- 
thing fundamentally  wrong  in  their  Church  structure 
or  belief,  or  in  the  standard  books  of  the  Church — 
such  as  the  Book  of  Mormon,  or  Doctrine  and  Cove- 
nants— published  during  the  life  of  Joseph  Smith. ' '  * 

We  have  accepted  this  challenge  and  ask  for 
a  patient  and  careful  consideration  of  the  mat- 
ter set  forth  in  the  following  chapters. 

The  Author. 
Rochester,  N.  Y.,  February,  1919. 


2  A  pamphlet  entitled  '« An  open  letter  to  the  Clergy,"  by  E.  A. 
Smith,  p.  14,  (R). 

Note. — The  Reorganized  Church  does  not  like  to  be  called  by 
name  "  Mormon."  However,  when  its  first  president,  Joseph 
Smith,  took  his  place  he  said :  "  In  taking  the  head  of  the  Mormon 
Church  I  am  running  counter  to  the  opinions  of  many  people." — 
Heraldy  Vol.  I,  No.  7,  p.  169.  In  the  •'  Doctrine  and  Covenants," 
113:7,  the  whole  movement  is  referred  to  as  "  Mormonism." 
Hence  the  author  justifies  his  references  by  these  statements. 

All  references  to  publications  of  the  Reorganized  Church  will  be 
designated  (R).    Those  of  the  Utah  Church  (U). 


MOEMON  HISTORY 

THE  history  of  Mormonism  begins  with 
the  date  of  the  birth  of  its  founder, 
Joseph  Smith,  who  was  born  Decem- 
ber 23,  1805,  at  Sharon,  Vermont. 

When  Smith  was  about  ten  years  of  age,  his 
father  and  family  removed  to  Palmyra,  New 
York.  In  a  few  years  thereafter  the  family 
moved  to  Manchester,  a  town  near  Palmyra. 
It  was  here  that  Smith  claimed  to  have  his  first 
supernatural  vision  in  the  spring  of  the  year 
1820,  when  fifteen  years  of  age.  His  mind  was 
agitated  over  the  matter  of  religion  and  he  re- 
lates that  he  had  gone  into  the  woods  to  pray. 
While  praying  he  suddenly  saw  two  personages 
standing  in  the  air ;  one  of  them  pointing  to  the 
other  said,  "  This  is  my  beloved  Son,  hear  him.'' ' 

The  message  delivered,  so  he  said,  was  that 
he,  Smith,  should  not  join  any  of  the  Churches ; 
for  they  were  all  wrong;  their  creeds  were  an 
abomination  in  God's  sight;  the  professors  of 
religion  were  all  corrupt. 

In  the  year  1823  he  claimed  to  have  another 
visitation  from  a  heavenly  being  who  told  him 
of  a  book,  which  was  written  upon  gold  plates 

» "  Church  History,"  (R),  i ;  9. 

19 


20    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MORMONISM 

and  was  buried  in  the  ground  by  former  inhabit- 
ants of  this  continent;  that  Smith  was  to  trans- 
late this  book  and  give  it  to  the  world. 

It  was  not  until  the  year  1827  that  he  was 
able  to  obtain  possession  of  the  Golden  Plates. 
From  these  mysterious  plates  he  claimed  to 
translate  the  Booli  of  Mormon,  the  first  edition 
of  which  was  printed  at  Palmyra,  New  York, 
in  1830. 

On  the  6th  of  April,  1830,  the  Mormon 
Church  was  organized  at  Fayette^  New  York. 
It  was  otherwise  named,  "The  Church  of 
Christ."  Later  it  was  renamed,  "  The  Church 
of  Jesus  Christ  of  Latter  Day  Saints." 

In  1831,  Smith  and  most  of  his  followers  left 
New  York  and  moved  to  Ohio,  settling  at  a 
place  called  Kirtland.  Here  the  first  Mormon 
Temple  was  built  and  was  dedicated  in  1836. 

In  1831,  Smith  and  some  of  his  followers  went 
on  further  into  the  western  frontier  in  search 
of  a  location  suitable  for  a  '^  Gathering  place 
for  the  Saints,"  his  followers. 

Choice  was  made  of  the  town  of  Independ- 
ence, Jackson  County,  Missouri.  This  was  to 
be  the  centre  of  the  "  Land  of  Zion."  Smith 
made  choice  of  a  spot  of  ground  in  this  town 
and  solemnly  dedicated  it  as  a  place  where  a 
great  Temple  was  to  be  reared. 

Around  this  consecrated  place  the  followers 
of  Smith  began  to  gather.     Here  in  June,  1832, 


MOEMON  HISTOEY  21 

the  first  Mormon  periodical  was  issued,  called 
The  Evening  and  the  Morning  Star, 

Smith  had  taught  his  followers  that  the  com- 
ing of  Christ  was  very  near;  that  Christ  by 
revelation  through  hiin  had  commanded  all  the 
faithful  to  gather  as  soon  as  possible  to  this  \ 
place ;  that  the  world  was  ripening  for  destruc-  1 
tion ;  that  those  remaining  outside  of  "  Zion '' 
would  perish. 

In  the  year  1833  another  Church  paper  was 
started  at  Kirtland,  Ohio.  It  was  called  The 
Latter  Day  Saints'  Messenger  and  Advocate. 

During  the  same  year  the  revelations  which 
Smith  had  received  were  printed  in  Missouri, 
several  of  them  appearing  in  the  paper  The 
Evening  and  the  Morning  Star,  They  also  ap- 
peared in  a  book  known  as  "  The  Book  of  Com- 
mandments." 

The  non-Mormon  inhabitants  of  Missouri  be- 
came alarmed  on  account  of  the  large  numbers 
of  Mormons  who  were  moving  in  amongst  them. 
They  understood  that  the  Mormons  were  not 
coming  to  settle  as  other  neighbors.  The  Mor- 
mons told  them  that  God  had  chosen  that  land 
for  His  people. 

When  the  revelations  of  Smith  were  printed 
they  became  known  to  the  gentiles  in  Missouri, 
and  they  aroused  grave  suspicions.  The  hyper- 
bolical terms  used  in  the  revelations  seemed  very 
strange. 


22    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

They  told  the  Mormons  they  might  obtain 
the  lands  by  "  purchase  or  by  blood." '  To  a 
westerner  of  those  days  the  use  of  the  word 
"  blood  "  in  such  a  connection  was  a  challenge 
for  instant  action.  That  action  was  not  de- 
layed. 

The  printing  press  was  destroyed  and  the 
Mormons  were  ordered  to  leave.  They  crossed 
the  Missouri  Kiver,  taking  up  their  abode  tem- 
porarily in  Clay  County. 

The  news  of  the  desolation  of  his  "  Zion  "  had 
been  communicated  to  Smith  at  Kirtland, 
whereupon  he  organized  an  army  of  more  than 
two  hundred  men/  and  marched  to  Missouri  in 
obedience  to  one  of  his  revelations/  with  the 
intention  of  bringing  relief  to  his  stranded  fol- 
lowers and  restoring  them  upon  their  posses- 
sions in  Jackson  County.  This  was  the  first 
militaristic  venture  of  the  Mormon  Church. 

It  is  estimated  that  about  twelve  hundred 
Mormons  had  been  driven  out  of  Jackson 
County.'  An  effort  has  been  made  to  modify 
the  real  purpose  of  this  army.  As  a  matter  of 
fact,  it  went  to  Missouri  prepared  to  fight/  but 
upon  arrival  there  it  was  confronted  with  over- 

2"  Doctrine  and  Covenants,"  (R),  63  :  8.  Quotations  in  this  book 
are  from  the  Utah  ed.,  (U),  of  1880,  and  Lamoni  ed.,  (R),  1901. 
»  "  Church  History,"  (R) ,  i  :  462-464. 
* «'  Doctrine  and  Covenants,"  (R),  98  : 7. 
6"  Church  History,"  (R),  i ;  334. 
•  Idid.,  1 :  454. 


MOEMON  HISTORY  23 

whelming  numbers  of  Missourians  who  were 
prepared  to  resist  any  attempt  to  enter  Jackson 
County. 

Suddenly  great  storms  and  floods  came  and 
the  army  was  stricken  with  an  epidemic  of 
cholera  from  which  several  died.  In  this  mis- 
erable plight  Smith  decided  to  disband  the  army 
forthwith.  Hence  the  expedition  ended  in 
failure. 

Smith  attempted  to  pacify  his  deluded  fol- 
lowers by  giving  a  revelation/  in  which  they 
were  told  to  wait  until  "my  army''  becomes 
"very  great,"  then,  "I  will  hold  the  armies 
guiltless  in  taking  possession  of  their  own 
lands  .  .  .  throwing  down  the  towers  of 
mine  enemies,  that  may  be  upon  them  .  .  . 
and  avenging  me  of  mine  enemies." 

This  militaristic  expedition  took  place  in  the 

year  1834.      Keturning  to  Kirtland,  the  next 

thing  of  importance  was  the  publication  of 

j  I    "  The  Book  of  Doctrine  and  Covenants  "  in  the 

!  i     year  1835. 

During  this  year  a  traveller  came  to  Kirtland, 
exhibiting  some  Egyptian  mummies  and  rolls  of 
papyrus.  Smith  bought  these  and  later  pre- 
tended to  translate  from  the  rolls  what  he 
\  called  the  "  Book  of  Abraham." 

During  the  time  intervening,  Smith  had  his 
eye  upon  Missouri.     Some  of  his  followers  had 

""*  Doctrine  and  Covenants,"  (R),  I02;  8,  9. 


24    THE  FOUKDATIOKS  OF  MORMONISM 

wandered  northward  from  Clay  County,  to  a 
place  known  as  Far  West,  in  Caldwell  County. 

To  this  place  Smith  journeyed,  accompanied 
by  several  of  his  official  party  in  1837.  Shortly 
after  his  arrival  there  he  announced  that  Adam 
had  made  his  home  in  that  vicinity.  What  a 
fitting  place  for  the  final  gathering  of  the 
Saints!  A  site  for  the  building  of  a  Temple 
was  chosen.  The  publication  of  another  Mor- 
mon paper  began.  It  was  called  The  Elders' 
Journal, 

The  Mormons  began  to  gather  here  in  great 
numbers.  Trouble  soon  arose  between  them 
and  their  gentile  neighbors,  culminating  in  an 
order  of  the  governor  to  "  exterminate  ''  them  or 
drive  them  "  from  the  State."  The  date  of  this 
order  was  October  27,  1838.  The  drastic  meas- 
ure was  taken  because  the  Mormons  were  guilty 
of  "  having  made  open  war  upon  the  people  of 
the  State." ' 

Early  in  the  year  1839  the  whole  of  the  Mor- 
mon community  removed  to  Illinois.  Here  they 
established  themselves  at  Nauvoo,  in  Hancock 
County,  on  the  Mississippi  Eiver. 

Previous  to  this,  Mormon  missionaries  had 
gone  to  England.  They  met  with  great  success. 
Shiploads  of  converts  were  being  sent  to  Amer- 
ica and  they  came  to  Nauvoo. 

Soon  the  erection  of  a  great  Temple  began  and 

*"  Church  History,"  2:  217. 


MOEMON  HISTOEY  25 

the  Mormons  continued  to  gather  here  in  large 
numbers.  In  November,  1839,  was  begun  an- 
other Church  paper  known  as  The  Times  and 
Seaso7is.  In  May,  1840,  the  first  number  of  The 
Millennial  Star^  another  Mormon  paper,  ap- 
peared. It  was  published  in  Manchester,  Eng- 
land. 

Copies  of  all  these  first  publications  of  Mor- 
monism  are  yet  in  existence  and  they  disclose 
very  authentically  the  nature  and  the  incidents 
of  the  formative  period  of  the  movement. 

The  Mormons  were  not  destined  to  live  long, 
nor  peaceably,  at  Nauvoo.  One  shocking  thing 
after  another  occurred.  The  Gentile  i)opulation 
finally  arose  to  rid  itself  of  these  intruders. 
/Joseph  Smith  and  his  brother,  Hyrum,  were 
shot  to  death  while  awaiting  trial,  in  jail  at 
Carthage,  Illinois,  June  27, 1844. 

The  Mormons  were  summarily  ordered  to 
leave  the  State.  Early  in  the  year  1846  the 
principal  body  of  them  left  for  the  West  under 
the  leadership  of  Brigham  Young.  They  estab- 
lished themselves  in  Utah,  which  has  since  been 
the  center  of  their  location. 

In  1852,  a  movement  started  amongst  those 
Mormons  who  had  not  gone  westward,  culminat- 
ing in  the  organization  of  "  The  Eeorganized 
Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Latter  Day  Saints," 
at  Amboy,  Illinois,  April  6,  1860. 

The  headquarters  of  this  division  was  first  es- 


26    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

tablished  at  Piano,  Illinois.  Here  was  begun 
the  publication  of  The  Saints'  Herald,  Later 
the  headquarters  was  transferred  to  Lamoni, 
Iowa,  where  it  still  abides.  During  recent  years 
there  has  been  a  large  influx  of  Mormon  people 
into  the  State  of  Missouri.  The  most  of  them 
are  to  be  found  in  Independence  and  vicinity. 

The  Mormons  have  written  volumes  of  his- 
tory. There  is  need,  however,  to  go  back  to  the 
sources  in  order  to  obtain  a  full  and  correct  ac- 
count of  many  vital  things. 

It  will  be  of  interest  in  this  connection  to  note 
a  few  examples,  wherein  some  remarkable  facts 
have  been  obscured,  esx)ecially  in  the  history 
written  and  published  by  authority  of  the  Eeor- 
ganized  Church. 

All  Mormons  generally  believe  that  their 
Prophet,  Joseph  Smith,  was  strenuously  op- 
posed to  slavery.  However,  on  the  pages  of  the 
old  Mormon  paper.  The  Messenger  and  Advo- 
cate, of  April,  1836,  may  be  found  an  article 
contributed  by  him  expressly  advocating  it. 

He  believed  in  it  as  representing  the  will  of 
Jehovah  concerning  the  black  man. 

We  quote  from  this  article : 

* '  If  slavery  is  an  evil,  who  could  we  expect  should 
first  learn  it  ?  Would  the  people  of  the  Free  States, 
or  would  the  Slave  States  ?  All  must  readilj^  admit, 
that  the  latter  would  first  learn  this  fact. 

.    .    .    It  is  my  privilege  then  to  name  certain 


MOEMON  HISTOEY  27 

passages  from  the  Bible,  and  examine  the  teachings 
of  the  Ancients  upon  the  matter,  as  the  fact  is  incon- 
vertible, that  the  first  mention  we  have  of  slavery,  is 
found  in  the  Holy  Bible,  pronounced  by  a  man  who 
was  perfect  in  his  generation,  and  walked  with  God. 

And  so  far  from  that  prediction  being  averse  from 
the  mind  of  God,  it  remains  as  a  lasting  monument 
to  the  decree  of  Jehovah,  to  the  shame  and  confusion 
of  all  who  have  cried  out  against  the  South,  in  con- 
sequence of  their  holding  the  sons  of  Ham  in  servi- 
tude! *And  he  said.  Cursed  be  Canaan,  a  servant  of 
servants  shall  he  be  unto  his  brethren.'  'Blessed  be 
the  Lord  God  of  Shem;  and  Canaan  shall  be  his 
servant. ' 

,  .  .  The  curse  is  not  yet  taken  off  from  the 
sons  of  Canaan  .  .  .  those  who  are  determined 
to  pursue  a  course,  which  shows  an  opposition,  and  a 
feverish  restlessness  against  the  designs  of  the  Lord, 
will  learn  when  perhaps  too  late,  for  their  own  good, 
that  God  can  do  His  own  work,  without  the  aid  of 
those  who  are  not  directed  by  His  Counsel. 

.  .  .  The  Scripture  stands  for  itself;  and  I  be- 
lieve that  these  men  were  better  qualified  to  teach  the 
will  of  God,  than  all  the  Abolitionists  in  the  world/' ' 

In  the  Church  history  only  the  two  closing 
paragraphs  are  quoted  from  this  article,"  from 
which  the  fact  is  covered  over  that  Smith  be- 
lieved and  advocated  slavery  as  a  divine  prin- 
ciple. 

'  Quoted  in  Millennial  Star,  Vol.  15,  pp.  730-741. 
""Church  History,"   (R),  2:58. 


28    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MORMONISM 

His  attitude  is  further  set  forth  in  the  follow- 
ing: 

*' Question  13tJi.  Are  the  Mormons  abolitionists? 
Answer:  No,  unless  delivering  the  people  from 
priestcraft  and  the  priests  from  the  power  of  Satan, 
should  be  considered  such — but  we  do  not  believe  in 
setting  the  negroes  free. ' '  " 

These  facts  will  be  something  of  a  revelation 
to  most  of  the  Mormons  of  to-day. 

Here  is  another  statement  which  is  omitted : 

*'He  (Joseph  Smith)  then  gave  a  relation  of  some 
of  the  circumstances  attending  us  while  journeying 
to  Zion  (Missouri) — our  trials,  sufferings,  etc.;  and 
said  God  had  not  designed  all  this  for  nothing,  but 
had  it  in  remembrance  yet;  and  those  who  went  to 
Zion  with  a  determination  to  lay  down  their  lives  if 
necessary,  it  was  the  will  of  God  that  they  should  be 
ordained  to  the  ministry,  and  go  forth  to  prune  the 
vineyard  for  the  last  time,  or  the  coming  of  the  Lord, 
which  was  nigh — even  fifty-six  years  should  wind  up 
the  scene. ' '  " 

The  Mormons  have  always  been  careless  in 
itheir  use  of  prophecy.    According  to  their  pro- 
Igram  the  world  should  have  come  to  its  end ;  the 
Mormons  all  gathered  to  Zion ;  the  wicked  des- 
troyed long  ago.     The  publication  of  such  a 

"  The  Elders'  Journal,  July,  1838. 

""Church  History,"  (R),  i:  omitted  011  p.  540.  See 
source  Millennial  Star,  Vol.  15,  p.  205. 


MOEMON  HISTORY  29 

statement  as  the  above  would  not  likely 
strengthen  the  faith  of  the  Mormon  people, 
hence  it  is  also  omitted. 

When  the  first  volume  of  the  history  pub- 
lished by  the  Eeorganized  Church  appeared,  it 
became  clearly  evident  that  there  had  been  an 
effort  made  to  smooth  over  some  of  the  unfortu- 
nate items  of  Mormon  history. 

This  is  notably  true  with  regard  to  the  pur- 
poses of  the  army  which  Smith  led  to  Missouri. 
The  historian  would  like  to  make  it  appear  that 
they  were  acting  purely  on  the  defensive. 

One  of  the  old  warriors  that  marched  with 
that  army  knew  better.  When  the  history  of 
this  affair  was  written  he  took  issue  with  the 
historian.    He  writes  as  follows : 

**In  the  first  volume  I  think  the  history  and  com- 
ments, concerning  the  Army  of  the  Lord  called  to  go 
up  to  redeem  Zion  to  be  misleading.  My  understand- 
ing is,  the  Saints  would  not  send  up  their  money  to 
purchase.  The  Lord  wanted  to  see  if  we  would  fight, 
and  in  this  he  was  not  mistaken,  as  the  record  shows 
one  hundred  of  the  strength  of  the  Lord's  was  the 
limit,  and  enough  to  redeem  Zion;  but  we  got  two 

Note— The  representatives  of  the  Reorganized  Church 
would  like  to  repudiate  some  items  of  history  which  have 
been  published  by  the  Utah  Church,  in  the  consecutive  his- 
tory of  Joseph  Smith  as  published  in  the  Millennial  Star. 
In  the  volumes  of  history  published  by  the  Reorganized 
Church,  very  liberal  use  has  been  made  of  the  source  found 
in  the  Millennial  Star,  hence  we  feel  freely  justified  in 
quoting  from  it  here, 


30    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

hundred  and  over.  We  knew  the  Lord  would  have 
to  help  us  and  when  the  Lord  saw  we  were  more 
willing  to  fight  than  purchase,  he  told  us  we  would 
have  to  wait  a  little  season  for  our  redemption  and  I 
think  it  was  a  trial  of  faith.  Abraham  was  once 
tried  when  he  was  called  upon  to  offer  his  son,  al- 
though he  was  forbidden  to  shed  blood  as  well  as  we 
were;  therefore  his  trial  and  ours  are  similar." — 
John  Hawley.'' 

The  following,  which  is  directly  in  line  of  the 
narrative,  is  omitted : 

^*  Lyman  E.  Johnson  ...  no  power  of  the 
enemy  shall  prevent  him  from  going  forth  and  doing 
the  work  of  the  Lord;  and  he  shall  live  until  the 
gathering  is  accomplished  ...  he  shall  see  the 
saviour  come  and  stand  upon  the  earth  with  power 
and  great  glory. 

Brigham  Young  .  .  .  the  holy  priesthood  is 
conferred  on  him,  that  he  may  do  wonders  in  the 
name  of  Jesus :  that  he  may  cast  out  devils,  heal  the 
sick,  raise  the  dead,  open  the  eyes  of  the  blind  .  .  . 
heathen  nations  shall  call  him  God  himself,  if  he  do 
not  rebuke  them. 

Orson  Hyde  ...  he  shall  stand  on  earth  and 
bring  souls  till  Christ  comes  ...  he  shall  have 
power  to  smite  the  earth  with  pestilence;  to  divide 
the  waters,  and  lead  through  the  saints. 

David  W.  Patten  .  .  .  may  he  have  power  to 
smite  his  enemies  before  him  with  utter  destruction. 
May  he  continue  till  the  Lord  comes. 

''Saints'  Herald,  Vol.  48,  No.  2. 


MOEMON  HISTOEY  31 

William  Smith  ...  he  shall  be  preserved  and 
remain  on  earth  until  Christ  shall  come  to  take  ven- 
geance on  the  wicked. ' ' " 

The  above  statements  were  prophetic  "  Bless- 
ings "  pronounced  upon  the  heads  of  these  men 
in  the  very  early  days  of  Mormonism.  They 
have  long  since  gone  the  way  of  all  the  earth. 
The  prophecies  failed.  Their  publication  would 
be  detrimental  to  Mormonism,  hence  they  are 
left  out." 

The  conduct  of  the  Mormons  at  Kirtland, 
Ohio,  and  their  religious  practices  in  connection 
with  the  Temple  brought  forth  much  unfavor- 
able criticism  from  their  Gentile  neighbors. 

The  following  is  an  account  of  a  meeting  con- 
ducted by  Joseph  Smith : 

'*I  ascended  the  pulpit  and  remarked  to  the  con- 
gregation that  we  had  passed  through  many  trials 
and  afflictions  since  the  organization  of  the  Church 
and  that  this  was  a  year  of  jubilee  to  us  and  a  time 
of  rejoicing ;  that  it  was  expedient  for  us  to  prepare 
bread  and  wine  sufficient  to  make  our  hearts  glad,  as 
we  should  not,  probably,  leave  this  house  until  morn- 
ing; to  this  end  we  should  call  on  the  brethren  to 
make  a  contribution. 

The  stewards  passed  around  and  took  up  a  liberal 
contribution  and  messengers  were  despatched  for 
bread  and  wine.     Tubs,  water  and  towels  were  pre- 

""  Church  History,"  (R),  1:541-542,  where  omitted. 
"Millennial  Star,  Vol.  15,  pp.  206-207,  source. 


32    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

pared  and  I  called  the  house  to  order,  and  the  presi- 
dency proceeded  to  wash  the  feet  of  the  twelve 
(Apostles)  pronouncing  many  prophecies  and  bless- 
ings upon  them  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus.  And 
then  the  twelve  proceeded  to  wash  the  feet  of  presi- 
dents of  the  several  quorums.  The  brethren  began 
to  prophesy  upon  each  others'  heads  and  cursings 
upon  the  enemies  of  Christ,  who  inhabit  Jackson 
County,  Missouri;  and  continued  prophesying  and 
blessing  and  sealing  them  with  hosanna  and  Amen 
until  nearly  seven  o  'clock  p.  m.  "  " 

The  Church  historian  smoothes  this  over  by 
inserting  the  following: 

**0n  the  30th  official  members  of  the  Church  to 
the  number  of  about  three  hundred  met  and  attended 
to  the  ordinance  of  feet  washing,  continuing  all  night 
in  session.''" 

This  shows  very  clearly  the  attitude  of  the 
Mormons  toward  the  Missourians.  They  re- 
garded them  as  enemies  of  Christ.  This  early 
practice  of  cursing  enemies  has  led  to  some  ex- 
ceedingly unfortunate  things  in  Mormon  his- 
tory. 

Our  contention  is  that  the  Mormons  them- 
selves are  not  really  acquainted  with  the  essen- 
tial facts  of  their  history.  One  reason  is  that 
only  a  few  have  access  to  the  original  docu- 
ments; another  reason  is,  the  historians  have 

^'Millennial  Star,  Vol.  15,  p.  727. 
""Church  History."  (R),  2:46. 


MORMON  HISTORY  33 

purposely  kept  many  of  the  important  things 
from  the  knowledge  of  the  people. 
The  Prophet  further  relates : 

** About  three  o'clock  p.  m.,  I  dismissed  the  school 
and  the  presidency  retired  to  the  attic  story  of  the 
printing  office,  where  we  attended  to  the  ordinance 
of  washing  our  bodies  in  pure  water.  We  also  per- 
fumed our  bodies  and  our  heads  in  the  name  of  the 
Lord.''" 

The  people  of  the  Keorganized  Church  love 
the  hymn,  "The  Spirit  of  God  like  a  fire  is 
burning,""  but  there  is  one  significant  verse 
omitted  from  the  original  as  found  in  an  old 
Mormon  paper. 

That  verse  reads : 

**We'll  wash  and  be  washed,  and  with  oil  be 

anointed, 
Withal  not  omitting  the  washing  of  feet ; 
For  he  that  receiveth  his  penny  appointed, 
Must  surely  be  clean  at  the  harvest  of  wheat."  ^ 

Very  early  in  the  history  of  this  cult  the  prac- 
tice of  ceremonies  such  as  "  washings "  and 
"  anointings  "  entered.  These  were  doubtless 
intended  to  suggest  mystic  values.  Later  these 
practices  were  specifically  enjoined  in  a  revela- 

^^  Millennial  Star,  Vol.  15,  p.  597.    Same— omitted  "  Church 
History,"  (R),  2:16. 
""Saints'  Hymnal,"  (R),  Hymn  355. 
^^  Messenger  and  Advocate,  Vol.  2,  No.  4,  p.  256. 


34    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

tion."  The  mysterious  practices  of  the  Endow- 
ment Houses  conducted  secretly  by  tlie  Utah 
Church  seem  to  have  had  their  humble  begin- 
nings in  these  early  days.  The  Utah  Church 
has  consistently  continued  these  practices.  The 
Reorganized  Church  has,  as  yet,  nothing  corre- 
sponding with  them. 

There  is  much  in  the  early  history  of  Mor- 
monism  that  does  not  leave  a  favorable  impres- 
sion with  those  acquainted  with  it. 

In  Ohio,  at  Kirtland,  in  less  than  two  years 
after  the  building  and  dedication  of  the  Temple, 
still  standing  there,  the  Prophet  Smith  and  his 
colleague,  Rigdon,  left  the  town  under  cover  of 
the  night,  owing  to  "  apostate  mobocracy," " 
that  is,  his  own  followers  ran  them  out.  About 
one  year  later  the  Mormons  were  oflcially  ad- 
vised not  to  return  there.'"  In  1846,  a  notice 
appeared  in  a  secular  paper  advertising  the 
Temple  for  sale.'* 

In  Missouri,  between  the  years  1833  and  1839, 
the  Mormons  had  a  most  turbulent  and  unsat- 
isfactory experience.  Mr.  John  Corrill,  who 
had  been  a  Mormon  Bishop  and  was  afterward 
a  member  of  the  State  Legislature,  had  the 
courage  to  separate  himself  from  Mormonism, 
describes  the  doings  of  the  Church  in  Missouri 
as  follows : 

""Doctrine  and  Covenants,"  (R),  107:12. 

"  "  Church  History,"   (R) ,  2 :  136.  ^Ibid.t  2 :  374. 

**  The  Hancock  Uagle,  June  26,  1846. 


MOEMON  HISTORY  SB 

**I  have  left  you  not  because  I  disbelieve  the  Bible, 
for  I  believe  in  God,  the  Saviour,  and  in  religion,  the 
same  as  ever ;  but  when  I  retrace  our  track  and  view 
the  doings  of  the  Church  for  six  years  past,  I  can 
see  nothing  that  convinces  me  that  God  has  been  our 
leader;  calculation  after  calculation  has  failed  and 
plan  after  plan  has  been  overthrown  and  our  prophet 
seemed  not  to  know  the  event  till  too  late.  If  he 
said,  go  up  and  prosper,  still  we  did  not  prosper ;  but 
have  labored  and  toiled  and  waded  through  trials, 
difficulties  and  temptations  of  various  kinds  in  hope 
of  deliverance.  But  no  deliverance  came.  The 
promises  failed  and  time  after  time  we  have  been  dis- 
appointed; and  still  were  commanded  in  the  most 
rigid  manner  to  follow  him,  which  the  Church  did, 
until  they  were  led  into  the  commission  of  crime; 
have  been  apprehended  and  broken  down  by  their 
opponents,  many  have  been  obliged  to  abandon  their 
country,  their  families  and  all  they  possessed  and 
great  affliction  has  been  brought  upon  the  whole 
Church. 

What  shall  we  say  to  these  things?  Did  not  your 
prophet  proclaim  in  your  ears  that  the  day  was 
your  own  and  that  you  should  overcome;  when  in 
less  than  a  week  you  were  all  made  prisoners  of  war 
and  you  would  have  been  exterminated,  had  it  not 
been  for  the  exertions  and  influence  of  a  few  dis- 
senters and  the  humane  and  manly  spirit  of  a  certain 
officer.  But  where  now  may  you  look  for  deliver- 
ance? You  may  say,  in  God;  but  I  say,  in  the  ex- 
ercise of  common  sense  and  that  sound  reason  with 
which  God  has  endowed  you;  and  my  advice  is  to 


36    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

follow  that,  in  preference  to  those  pretended  visions 
and  revelations  which  have  served  no  better  purpose 
than  to  increase  your  trouble,  and  which  would  bind 
you,  soul  and  body,  under  the  most  intolerable 
yoke.''" 

The  history  of  the  Church  in  Illinois,  from 
the  time  of  its  coming  in  1839,  to  the  date  of 
leaving  in  1846,  has  prejudiced  the  whole  world 
against  Mormonism.  During  this  period  new 
and  strange  doctrines  were  introduced,  includ- 
ing the  doctrine  of  polygamy.  Morally  and  po- 
litically the  situation  became  more  and  more 
intolerable.  Smith  had  announced  himself  as  a 
candidate  for  the  Presidency  of  the  United 
States ;  his  colleague,  Kigdon,  was  running  with 
him  for  Vice-President.  Smith  was  the  "  Lieu- 
tenant General  of  the  Nauvoo  Legion,"  the 
Mormon  Army  at  Nauvoo.  The  Dlinoians  had 
received  the  Mormons  with  open  hospitality  but 
they  began  to  see  that  they  could  not  possibly 
live  in  fellowship  with  them. 

One  of  the  leading  newspapers  of  that  section 
had  this  to  say : 

'*If  it  comes  to  this,  that  Joe  Smith,  is  to  control 
the  number  of  votes  in  our  county,  are  we  not  in 
effect  the  subjects  of  a  despot?  Might  we  not  as 
well  be  serfs  to  the  autocrat  of  Russia  ? 

What  need  have  we  of  the  elective  franchise  when 

»^"  A  Brief  History  of  the  Church,"  by  Jno.  Corrill,  p.  48. 


MORMOK  HISTORY  87 

a  Church  can  rise  up  in  our  midst,  controlled  by  the 
magic  of  one  to  dispense  political  favors.  Citizens 
look  to  this  thing!  Ask  yourselves  what  means  this 
array  of  military  force  which  is  paraded  under  di- 
rection of  this  Church. 

Is  an  army  necessary  to  the  propagation  of  re- 
ligion? .  .  .  Why  these  weekly  parades?  Why 
all  this  strictness  of  discipline?  We  pause  for  re- 
ply/'^^ 

While  the  Mormons  think  of  the  Prophet 
praying  to  God;  receiving  the  ministration  of 
Angels,  etc.,  they  should  also  think  of  him  in 
these  political  and  militaristic  relations. 

The  Prophet  relates : 

**  About  two  p.  M.  the  Legion  was  drawn  up  in  the 
street  close  to  the  Mansion.  I  stood  in  full  uniform 
on  the  top  of  the  frame  of  a  building.'' " 

There  he  made  a  speech  to  the  soldiers : 

*' Drawing  his  sword  and  presenting  it  to  heaven 
he  said:  I  call  God  and  Angels  to  witness  that  I 
have  unsheathed  my  sword  with  a  firm  and  unalter- 
able determination  that  this  people  shall  have  their 
legal  rights  and  be  protected  from  mob  violence  or 
my  blood  shall  be  spilled  upon  the  ground  like 
water.'''' 

Governor  Ford  was  Governor  of  Illinois  dur- 
ing the  period  of  the  Mormon  disturbances 

"Editorial  Warsaw  Signal,  (111.),  June  9,  1841. 
"Millennial  Star,  Vol.  24,  p.  203.    '^ Ibid.,  Vol.  24,  p.  204, 


38    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

there.  On  December  17,  1844,  he  made  a  long 
rej)ort  to  the  State  Legislature,  presenting  in 
detail  the  events  and  legal  aspects  of  the  whole 
matter.    He  concludes  with  the  following : 

**It  was  asserted  that  Joseph  Smith,  the  founder 
and  head  of  the  Mormon  Church,  had  caused  himself 
to  be  crowned  and  anointed  King  of  the  Mormons; 
that  he  had  imbodied  a  band  of  his  followers,  called 
Danites,  who  were  sworn  to  obey  him  as  God,  and 
to  do  his  commands,  murder  and  treason  not  ex- 
cepted; that  he  had  instituted  an  order  in  the 
Church,  whereby  those  who  composed  it  were  pre- 
tended to  be  sealed  up  to  eternal  life,  against  all 
crimes,  save  the  shedding  of  innocent  blood  or  con- 
senting thereto. 

That  this  order  was  instructed  that  no  blood  was 
innocent  blood,  except  that  of  the  members  of  the 
Church,  and  that  these  two  orders  were  made  the 
ministers  of  vengeance,  and  the  instruments  of  an 
intolerable  tyranny  which  he  established  over  his 
people,  and  which  he  was  about  to  extend  over  the 
neighboring  country. 

The  people  affected  to  believe,  that  with  this  power 
in  the  hands  of  an  unscrupulous  leader,  there  was  no 
safety  for  the  property  or  lives  of  any  who  should 
oppose  him. 

It  was  also  believed  that  Joseph  Smith  had  an- 
nounced a  revelation  from  heaven,  sanctioning  polyg- 
amy, by  some  kind  of  spiritual  wife  system  which 
I  never  could  understand ;  but  at  any  rate,  whereby 
a  man  was  allowed  one  wife  in  pursuance  of  the  laws 


MOEMON  HISTOEY  39 

of  the  country,  and  an  indefinite  number  of  others, 
to  be  enjoyed  in  some  mystical  and  spiritual  mode 
and  that  he  himself  had,  with  many  of  his  followers, 
practiced  upon  the  precepts  of  this  revelation,  by 
seducing  a  large  number  of  women.  .  .  .  Under 
the  whole,  if  one-half  of  these  reports  had  been  true, 
the  Mormon  community  must  have  been  the  most  in- 
tolerable collection  of  rogues  ever  assembled.'' '" 

Nearly  everything  that  had  been  mentioned 
by  the  Governor  has  subsequently  been  con- 
firmed in  the  well-known  practices  of  the  Mor- 
mon Church. 

Utah  Mormonism  continued  the  practice  of 
polygamy;  the  Mountain  Meadow  massacre  is 
an  eloquent  testimony  of  the  survival  of  the 
Danites ;  the  secret  mystic  rites  and  ceremonies 
are  common  practices  in  Utah  Mormonism ;  the 
dominating  priesthood  is  still  in  evidence;  its 
interference  in  political  matters  is  openly 
charged ;  its  unchristian  life  had  free  range  for 
development  outside  the  restrictions  of  general 
society. 

Under  Joseph  Smith,  the  Church  was  restless, 
moving  here  and  there  at  the  dictation  of  his 
revelations.  Under  Brigham  Young,  the  Church 
became  settled  and  established ;  practical  genius 
took  the  place  of  visions  and  revelations.  With 
the  passing  of  Smith  revelation  almost  ceased. 

The  Keorganized  Church  developed  within  the 

"  Ford's  "  History  of  Illinois,"  p.  325  ff. 


40    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OP  MOEMONISM 

circles  of  society  and  shared  with  it  the  common 
ideals.  The  positions  assumed  by  this  Church 
with  reference  to  Mormonism  are,  in  many  vital 
instances,  wholly  at  variance  with  the  facts. 
This  we  shall  see. 

The  history  of  Mormonism,  generally  consid- 
ered, is  bad;  and  any  religion  that  has  a  bad 
history  will  always  be  handicapped  in  impress- 
ing itself  upon  the  minds  of  thoughtful  and  dis- 
cerning persons. 


II 

JOSEPH  SMITH,  JR. 

MORMONISM  stands  united  in  the  be- 
lief that  Joseph  Smith,  the  founder 
of  the  cult,  was  a  Prophet  of  God. 
This,  indeed,  is  the  chief  corner-stone  of  this 
system  of  religion.  Every  institution  is,  in 
great  measure,  the  lengthened  shadow  of  the 
man,  or  men,  who  have  founded  it.  The  charac- 
ter of  Mormonism  as  a  religion  cannot  be  fully 
understood  apart  from  a  knowledge  of  the  char- 
acter of  its  founder. 

That  Joseph  Smith  was  born  and  reared  in 
an  atmosphere  of  superstition  is  evident  from 
the  facts  of  his  family  history.  His  mother 
wrote  a  book  in  which  she  describes  some  ex- 
periences. She  had  dreams  and  her  husband 
had  visions,  long  before  their  son  Joseph  began 
to  tell  of  his.  About  the  month  of  March,  1811, 
she  relates : 

*' About  this  time,  my  husband's  mind  became 
much  excited  upon  the  subject  of  religion;  yet  he 
would  not  subscribe  to  any  particular  system  of 

41 


42    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MORMONISM 

faith,  but  contended  for  the  ancient  order,  as  estab- 
lished by  Our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ  and  his 
Apostles. ' ' ' 

As  a  result  of  this  he  had  the  following 
vision : 

**I  seemed  to  be  travelling  in  an  open  barren 
field,  and  as  I  was  travelling,  I  turned  my  eyes  to- 
ward the  east,  west,  north,  and  south,  but  could  see 
nothing  save  dead  fallen  timber.  Not  a  vestige  of 
life,  either  animal  or  vegetable  could  be  seen ;  besides 
to  render  the  scene  still  more  dreary,  the  most  death- 
like silence  prevailed;  no  sound  of  anything  could 
be  heard  in  all  the  field.  I  was  alone  in  this  gloomy 
desert,  with  the  exception  of  an  attendant  spirit, 
who  kept  constantly  by  my  side.  Of  him  I  enquired 
the  meaning  of  what  I  saw,  and  why  I  was  thus 
travelling  in  such  a  dismal  place. 

He  answered  thus:  'This  field  is  the  world  which 
now  lieth  inanimate  and  dumb  in  regard  to  the  true 
religion  or  plan  of  salvation;  but,  travel  on  and  by 
the  wayside,  you  will  find  on  a  certain  log,  a  box,  the 
contents  which,  if  you  will  eat  thereof  will  make 
you  wise  and  give  you  wisdom  and  understanding. ' 

I  carefully  observed  what  was  told  me  by  my 
guide,  and  proceeding  a  short  distance  came  to  the 
box.  I  immediately  took  it  up  and  placed  it  under 
my  left  arm;  then  with  eagerness  I  raised  the  lid 
and  began  to  taste  of  its  contents,  upon  which,  all 
manner  of  beasts,  horned  cattle  and  roaring  animals, 

'"J.  Smith  the  Prophet  and  His  Progenitors,"  (R), 
chap.  14. 


JOSEPH  SMITH,  JR.  43 

rose  up  on  every  side  in  the  most  threatening  manner 
possible;  tearing  the  earth,  tossing  their  horns  and 
bellowing  most  terrifically  all  around  me,  and  finally 
came  so  close  upon  me,  that  I  was  compelled  to  drop 
the  box  and  fly  for  my  life.  Yet  in  the  midst  of  all 
this,  I  was  perfectly  happy,  though  I  awoke  trem- 
bling. "—Zft^^Z.,  pp.  59-60. 

The  interpretation  put  upon  this  "  vision " 
reveals  the  dominant  idea  struggling  for  expres- 
sion.   Mrs.  Smith  adds : 

**From  this  forward,  my  husband  seemed  more 
confirmed  than  ever  in  the  opinion:  that  there  was 
no  order  or  class  of  religionists,  that  knew  any  more 
concerning  the  Kingdom  of  God,  than  those  of  the 
world,  or  such  as  made  no  profession  of  religion 
whatever.'' ' 

Thus  it  may  be  seen  that  the  parents  of  Smith 
were  imbued  with  the  principal  conceptions 
which  their  son  Joseph  claimed  God  revealed  to 
Mm  in  1820.  These  conceptions  were :  that  the 
true  order  of  religion  was  not  upon  earth ;  that 
all  the  Churches  were  wrong ;  that  all  professors 
of  religion  were  corrupt.  With  these  thoughts 
in  his  mind,  young  Smith  went  into  the  woods 
to  pray.  He  tells  how,  when  he  began  to  pray 
that  he  was  seized  with  some  power  which  en- 
tirely overcame  him;  that  he  was   rendered 

*"J.    Smith    the    Prophet    and   His   Progenitors,"    (R), 
chap.  14. 


44    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

speechless;  darkness  gathered  around  him  and 
he  thought  he  was  doomed  to  destruction.  Just 
at  that  time  a  light  appeared  and  two  person- 
ages addressed  him,  calling  him  by  name.  One 
of  them  said,  "This  is  my  beloved  Son,  hear 
Him."  He  said  that  the  object  of  his  prayer 
was  to  know  "  which  of  all  the  sects  is  right." 
One  of  these  personages  told  him : 

*'I  was  answered  that  I  must  join  none  of  them, 
for  they  were  all  wrong;  and  the  personage  who  ad- 
dressed me  said  that  all  their  creeds  were  an  abom- 
ination in  His  sight;  that  those  professors  were  all 
corrupt;  that  'they  draw  near  me  with  their  lips, 
but  their  hearts  are  far  from  me;  they  teach  for 
doctrines  the  commandments  of  men,  having  a  form 
of  godliness,  but  they  deny  the  power  thereof ! '  He 
again  forbade  me  to  join  with  any  of  them;  and 
many  other  things  did  he  say  unto  me,  which  I  can- 
not write  at  this  time. 

When  I  came  to  myself  again,  I  found  myself  ly- 
ing on  my  back,  looking  up  into  heaven.'" 

This  story,  as  here  related,  was  not  told  by 
Smith  until  several  years  after  Mormonism  was 
well  under  way.  In  order  to  make  room  for  a 
new  religion  all  old  forms  must  be  condemned. 
Mormonism  has  often  been  referred  to  as  being 
Mohammedan  in  character.*   It  is  exactly  like  it 

•"Church  History,"  (R),  1:9. 

* "  Brigham  Young  and  the  Mormon  Empire,"  p.  9,  also 
"  Mormonism  the  Islam  of  America."    (Title  of  Book.) 


JOSEPH  SMITH,  JR.  45 

in  its  sweeping  denunciation  of  all  other  forms 
of  faith.    Here  is  what  Joseph  Smith  says : 

''Is  it  any  wonder  then,  that  we  say  of  the  priests 
of  modern  days,  that  they  are  of  Satan's  own  mak- 
ing, and  are  of  their  father  the  Devil?  Nay,  verily 
Nay;  for  no  being  but  a  scandalous  sycophant,  and 
base  hypocrite,  would  say  otherways  .  .  .  We 
shall  see  all  the  priests  who  adhere  to  the  sectarian 
religions  of  the  day,  with  all  their  followers  with- 
out one  exception,  receive  their  portion  with  the 
Devil  and  his  angels.''* 

Where  in  Mohammedan  lore  can  be  found 
anything  more  condemnatory  than  these  words? 
Again,  he  says : 

**  Respecting  the  Melchisedec  Priesthood,  the  sec- 
tarian world  never  professed  to  have  it,  consequently 
they  never  could  save  any  one  and  would  all  be 
damned  together.  The  sectarian  world  are  going  to 
hell  by  hundreds,  by  thousands  and  by  millions. ' '  * 

Another  incident  from  the  narratives  which 
the  Prophet^s  mother  records  illustrates  her  su- 
perstition. After  Smith  had  told  his  neighbors 
about  the  Golden  Plates  he  had  received,  from 
which  he  claimed  to  have  translated  the  "  Book 
of  Mormon,"  many  were  very  anxious  to  see 
them.    Mr.  Martin  Harris,  a  New  York  farmer. 

'  Elders*  Journal,  pp.  59-60,  August,  1838. 
^Millennial  Star,  Vol.  22,  p.  54. 


46    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OP  MOEMONISM 

wliom.  Smith  had  succeeded  in  interesting  in  the 
scheme,  had  sold  his  farm  to  obtain  money  to 
use  in  printing  the  book.  His  wife  was  very 
much  opposed  to  the  transaction  and  deter- 
mined to  see  the  Gold  Plates  if  possible.  She 
went  to  the  Smith  home  for  the  purpose  of  find- 
ing them.    Mrs.  Smith  says  of  this  incident : 

*' After  a  tedious  search,  she  at  length  came  to 
a  spot  where  she  judged  from  the  appearance  of 
things  they  must  be  buried;  but  upon  stoopmg  down 
to  scrape  away  the  snow  and  leaves,  in  order  to 
ascertain  the  fact,  she  encountered  a  horrible  black 
snake,  which  gave  her  a  terrible  fright,  and  she  ran 
with  all  possible  speed  to  the  house.'" 

It  would  be  very  unusual  to  find  a  snake  in 
the  season  of  the  year  when  snow  is  upon  the 
ground.  Mother  Smith  could  believe  this,  how- 
ever, and  also  that  God  was  using  that  snake  to 
protect  the  precious  Golden  Plates. 

The  history  of  religion  has  been  strangely  en- 
cumbered with  many  outbreaks  of  fanaticism. 
Since  the  dawn  of  Christianity  sects  have  multi- 
plied almost  without  number.  Mormonism, 
claiming  itself  to  be  the  one  and  only  true  relig- 
ion, broke  up  into  no  less  than  fifteen  sects  or 
parties  within  the  first  twenty  years  after  it 
took  organized  form.* 

^"  J.  Smith  and  His  Progenitors,"  (R),  chap.  24. 
• "  Evidence  Temple  Lot  Case,"  pp.  84-85. 


JOSEPH  SMITH,  JE.  47 

Men  have  repeatedly  followed  strong  delu- 
sions. The  history  of  witchcraft  and  belief  in 
devils  forms  a  very  sad  chapter  in  the  record  of 
the  world^s  events.  We  will  be  able  to  interpret 
the  character  of  Joseph  Smith,  and  understand 
his  religion  all  the  better  if  we  make  an  exami- 
nation of  related  phenomena.  Montanism,  for 
example,  which  became  a  powerful  movement  in 
the  second  century  of  Christianity,  resulted  di- 
rectly from  the  claims  of  Montanus." 

He  fell  into  passive  ecstasy,  claimed  to  be  in- 
spired, prophesied  the  near  coming  of  the  Lord, 
advocated  stern  morality,  tried  to  gather  his 
followers  into  a  holy  colony  and  demanded  un- 
equivocal recognition  of  himself  as  a  Prophet. 

Montanism  sought  to  restore  to  the  Church 
the  charismatic  life  and  arouse  the  conscious- 
ness of  inspiration  in  individual  Christians.  It 
placed  itself  in  opposition  to  the  trend  of  the 
Church  in  many  particulars.  As  the  movement 
grew  it  became  less  inspirational  and  more  for- 
mal and  Pharisaic  in  character. 

In  our  own  times  we  have  further  illustra- 
tions of  fanaticism  in  "The  Holy  Ghost  and 
Us ''  movement  led  by  Mr.  F.  W.  Sanford  in 
Maine,  and  "  Dowieism,"  led  by  the  late  John 
A.  Dowie,  of  Chicago. 

Compare  these  statements  respecting  Mon- 
tanism with  the  claims  of  Mormonism  and  note 

•Neander,  "Church  History,"  1:508-527. 


48    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MORMONISM 

their  striking  similarity.  Smith  began  with  a 
spiritual  experience.  He  made  bold  claims  to 
inspiration.  He  played  most  effectually  upon 
the  belief  of  the  people  in  the  visible  coming  of 
the  Lord.  He  advocated  a  rigid  morality,  even 
forbidding  one  to  use  tea  or  coffee."  He  tried 
repeatedly  to  gather  his  followers  into  a  holy 
colony ;  and  to  deny  his  claim  as  a  Prophet  was 
the  chiefest  sin  in  the  catalogue  of  apostasy. 
Smith  aroused  his  followers  to  seek  after  spir- 
itual gifts  and  depend  upon  inspiration  in  the 
solution  of  the  commonest  things  of  life.  Mor- 
monism  stood  aloof  from  the  Church  and  passed 
its  condemnation  upon  it.  As  it  grew,  its  reve- 
lations diminished  and  its  greatest  success  came 
when  it  depended  less  upon  "  the  inner  light '' 
and  more  upon  hard  work  and  common  sense. 

We  have  other  very  noted  examples  in  later 
history.  In  the  sixteenth  century  we  have  the 
rise  of  the  Zwickau  Prophets.  They  made  great 
claims  for  their  inspiration  and  aroused  great 
anxiety  on  the  part  of  Luther  and  Melanchthon. 
They  threatened  to  become  a  serious  hindrance 
to  the  Keformation.  Many  strong  men  were 
deeply  impressed  with  their  bold  claims."  These 
Prophets  denounced  the  Church ;  taught  the  in- 
validity of  infant  baptism ;  they  said  the  Church 

""Doctrine  and  Covenants/*  (U),  89:9.     So  interpreted. 
""The  Reformation  in  Germany,"  by  Vedder,  pp.   185. 
190. 


JOSEPH  SMITH,  JB.  49 

was  under  the  control  of  corrupt  men;  they 
boasted  the  gift  of  foreknowledge  and  of  judg- 
ing secret  things ;  they  had  revelations,  dreams 
and  visions.  No  one  was  to  give  himself  to 
study  of  art  or  literature — the  people  were  to 
depend  on  revelation  from  God. 

All  these  affirmations  were  directly  repro- 
duced in  the  history  of  Mormonism. 

A  little  later  we  have  the  rise  of  Melchior 
Hofmann,  who  was  much  moved  with  the  idea 
of  the  near  approach  of  the  last  Day."  He  an- 
nounced that  Strasburg  was  to  be  the  New 
Jerusalem  of  the  coming  age  and  that  the  year 
1G35  was  to  be  the  time  of  its  consummation. 
He  was  succeeded  by  Jan  Matthys,  who  trans- 
ferred the  seat  of  the  New  Jerusalem  to  Miln- 
ster.  Here,  community  of  goods  was  established 
among  the  many  followers  who  gathered  about 
him.  The  receiving  of  revelations  was  a  com- 
mon occurrence.  Being  obedient  to  a  heavenly 
vision,  Matthys  made  a  sortie  against  besiegers 
of  the  city  and  met  his  death. 

He  was  succeeded  by  John  Bockhold,  of  Ley- 
den,  who  claimed  that  he  was  appointed  of  God 
to  the  leadership  of  the  flock.  He  proclaimed 
that  the  Kingdom  of  David  was  to  be  reestab- 
lished at  Mtinster,  the  new  Mount  Zion,  and 
that  he  was  King  David.    He  soon  began  to  ad- 

"  "  The  Reformation  in  Germany,"  by  Vedder,  p.  346. 


60    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

vocate  the  practice  of  polygamy."  Dissensions 
broke  out  among  his  followers.  A  military  force 
overpowered  the  city  and  the  movement  came  to 
a  sad  and  speedy  end. 

The  slightest  acquaintance  with  Mormonism 
will  reveal  to  one  how  the  above  events  of  his- 
tory have  been  repeated  in  its  development. 
Mormonism  has  no  claim  to  a  unique  distinction 
as  a  religious  movement.  It  is  an  example  of 
history  repeating  itself. 

Joseph  Smith  had  the  boldness  to  make  ex- 
traordinary claims  for  himself.  By  his  revela- 
tion the  Church  was  commanded :  "  Thou  shalt 
give  heed  unto  all  his  words  and  command- 
ments, ...  for  his  word  ye  shall  receive, 
as  if  from  mine  own  mouth."  " 

He  was  to  be,  "  A  ruler  in  my  Kingdom."  " 
God  had  said  to  Abraham,  "  So  I  say  unto  my 
servant  Joseph,  in  thee  and  in  thy  seed,  shall  the 
kindred  of  the  earth  be  blessed."  "  He  claimed 
to  be, 

"  A  Prophet."  " 

"A  Seer."" 

"A  Eevelator."" 

"A  Translator."'" 

"  Apostle  of  Jesus  Christ."  " 

""The  Reformation  in  Germany,"  by  Vedder,  p.  348. 
""Doctrine  and  Covenants,"  (R),  19:2. 
''  Ibid.,  98 :  8.  "  Ibid.,  107 :  18.  "  Ibid.,  19 :  i. 

''  Ibid.,  19 : 1.  "  Ibid.,  107 :  29.  '"  Ibid.,  19 :  i. 

''Ibid.,  17:1. 


JOSEPH  SMITH,  JR.  51 

"  High  Priest."  " 

"  Baurak  Ale."  "  A  fictitious  name  whicli  lie 
applied  to  himself.  In  addition  to  the  above  he 
was  "President  of  the  Church";'*  he  was  or- 
dained a  Kingf  was  trustee  in  trust  for  the 
Church  f  Treasurer  of  the  Kirtland  Safety 
Society  Bank ;"  Grand  Chaplain  Masonic  Lodge 
at  Nauvoo  f  Lieutenant  General  of  the  Nauvoo 
Legion  f  Judge  of  the  Municipal  Court  of  Nau- 
voo,  Mayor  and  Kegistrar  of  Deeds  f  and,  to  cap 
it  all,  at  the  time  of  his  death  was  in  the  field  as 
a  candidate  for  the  Presidency  of  the  United 
States.'' 

We  will  here  introduce  some  of  his  prophe- 
cies: 

**I  prophesied  by  virtue  of  the  holy  priesthood 
vested  in  me,  and  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  that,  if  Congress  will  not  hear  our  petition, 
they  shall  be  broken  up  as  a  government,  and  God 
shall  damn,  and  there  shall  nothing  be  left  of  them 
— not  even  a  grease  spot.''  "* 

Here  is  another : 

'""Doctrine  and  Covenants,"  (R),  104:11. 

^  Ibid.,  100 :  5. 

^'Millennial  Star,  Vol.  18,  p.  535- 

^'Ihe  Saints'  herald,  (R),  Vol.  51,  No.  4. 

^'^Nauvoo  Neighbor,  December  27,  1843. 

'''  Journal  of  History,  Vol.  2,  No.  4. 

^^  Millennial  Star,  Vol.  19,  p.  152. 

''Ibid.,  Vol.  19.  p.  135.  'U^u/.,  Vol.  19: 135. 

^  Nanvoo  Neighbor,  June  26,  1844, 

^^  Millennial  Star,  Vol.  22,  p.  455? 


52    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MORMONISM 

*'I  prophesied  that  I  would  stand  and  shine  like 
the  Sun,  in  the  firmament,  when  my  enemies  and 
the  gain  sayers  of  my  testimony  shall  be  put  down 
and  cut  off,  and  their  names  blotted  out  from  among 
men/'" 

A  short  time  after  uttering  this  lie  was  shot 
to  death  in  Carthage  Jail,  Carthage,  Illinois. 
Upon  another  occasion  he  said : 


(( 


1  was  once  praying  very  earnestly  to  know  the 
time  of  the  coming  of  the  Son  of  Man,  when  I  heard 
a  voice  repeat  the  following:  *  Joseph,  my  son,  if 
thou  livest  until  thou  art  eighty-five  years  old,  thou 
shalt  see  the  face  of  the  Son  of  Man;  therefore  let 
this  suffice  and  trouble  me  no  more  on  this  mat- 
ter.''" 

Here  is  a  statement  which  illustrates  the  ex- 
tent of  his  learning,  his  two  vocabularies  being 
the  Scripture  and  the  American  vernacular : 

*'God  made  Aaron  to  be  the  mouth  piece  for  the 
children  of  Israel,  and  he  will  make  me  be  God  to 
you  in  his  stead,  and  the  elders  to  be  mouth  for  me ; 
and  if  you  don't  like  it,  you  must  lump  it."^ 

What  a  wonder  that  the  people  endured  as 
long  as  they  did  such  arrogance !  Here  is  the 
way  he  sent  one  of  his  Elders  out  on  a  mission ; 

"  Times  and  Seasons,  Vol.  6,  p.  992, 
'*  Millennial  Star,  Vol.  20,  p.  728. 
»  Ibid.,  Vol.  23,  p.  280. 


JOSEPH  SMITH,  JE.  63 

**I  also  decided  that  Elder  John  Snider,  should 
go  out  on  a  mission  .  .  .  if  he  will  not  he  shall 
be  cut  off  from  the  Church  and  be  damned."" 

There  were  times  when  revelations  came  to 
Smith  very  rarely.  The  environment  had  much 
to  do  with  it,  apparently.  At  other  times  they 
came  under  the  pressure  of  the  moment.  At  the 
time  he  was  being  elected  Mayor  of  Nauvoo,  he 
received  and  wrote  one  very  suddenly : 

''May  19,  1842:  Verily  thus  saith  the  Lord  unto 
my  servant  Joseph,  by  the  voice  of  my  spirit,  Hiram 
Kimball  has  been  insinuating  evil,  and  forming  evil 
opinions  against  you,  with  others ;  and  if  he  continue 
in  them,  he  and  they  shall  be  accursed,  for  I  am  the 
Lord  thy  God,  and  will  stand  by  thee  and  bless  thee. 
Amen, — which  I  threw  across  the  room  to  Hiram 
Kimball  one  of  the  Councillors.'"" 

Smith  did  not  hesitate  to  hurl  his  invectives 
against  any  who  happened  to  incur  his  enmity. 

''Cursed  are  all  those  who  shall  lift  up  the  heel 
against  mine  anointed,  saith  the  Lord,  and  cry, 
they  have  sinned,  when  they  have  not  sinned  before 
me,  saith  the  Lord,  but  have  done  that  which  was 
meet  in  mine  eyes,  and  which  I  commanded 
them.''"' 

Again : 

"I  will  wage  an  eternal  warfare  with  those  that 

^^  Millennial  Star,  Vol.  19,  p.  39. 

'^Ibid.,  Vol.  19,  p.  438.  ""Ibid.,  Vol.  17,  p.  54. 


V 


54    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

oppose  me  while  I  am  laboring  in  behalf  of  the  City. 
I  will  disgrace  every  man  by  publishing  him  on  the 
house  top,  who  will  not  be  still  and  mind  his  own 
business. ''** 

Again : 

*'No!  God  forbid.  Hell  may  pour  forth  its  rage 
like  the  burning  lava  of  Mt.  Vesuvius  or  of  Etna, 
or  of  the  most  terrible  of  the  burning  mountains, 
and  yet  shall  Mormonism  stand.  Water,  fire,  truth 
and  God  are  all  the  same.  Truth  is  Mormonism. 
God  is  the  author  of  it." '" 

In  the  beginning  Mormonism  was  a  very  sim- 
ple affair,  but  as  time  went  on  the  expectancy  of 
the  people  was  continuously  raised  by  the  intro- 
duction of  something  new.    Smith  said: 

''God  revealed  to  me  that  something  new  must 
be  done  for  the  salvation  of  his  Church.'/  " 

By  a  careful  examination  of  the  history  of 
this  man  one  will  find,  that  in  great  measure, 
the  opposition  and  persecution  which  he  brought 
upon  himself  was  waged  against  him  by  those 
who  had  been  his  followers.  He  left  Kirtland, 
Ohio,  under  cover  of  the  night  to  escape  the 
wrath  of  those  who  had  walked  with  him.  The 
fury  of  the  people  in  Missouri  was  moved  to 
unrestrained  action  when  the  facts  of  Smith's 

^^  Millennial  Star,  Vol.  23,  p.  23. 

*'Ibid.,  Vol.  17,  p.  56.  *'Ibid.,  Vol.  16,  p.  II. 


JOSEPH  SMITH,  JR~  55 

iniquities  were  made  known  by  his  own  disci- 
ples. The  troubles  he  encountered  at  Kauvoo,  in 
the  years  i)receding  his  death,  were  largely  con- 
fined to  the  disaffection  of  his  people  and  his 
death  was  precipitated  by  the  declaration  of  his 
iniquities  by  those  who  stood  high  in  o£S.cial 
circles  in  Mormonism. 

One  very  small  sect  of  Mormonism,  known  as 
the  "  Hedrickites  " — located  at  Independence, 
Missouri,  accepts  the  claims  of  Joseph  Smith 
and  all  that  was  embraced  within  the  system  of 
religion  he  founded  until  the  year  1835."  From 
that  time  they  regarded  Smith  as  a  "Fallen 
Prophet."  His  life  and  character  being  such  as 
to  rebuke  confidence  and  trust  in  it. 

His  followers  began  to  speak  of  him  as  a 
"  Fallen  Prophet.'^    Note  the  following : 

**  Simon  Carter  said  as  to  his  faith  in  the  work, 
it  was  the  same  as  ever ;  he  did  not  think  that  Joseph 
was  a  fallen  Prophet  .  .  .  Solomon  Hancock 
says  he  is  a  firm  believer  .  .  .  that  Brother 
Joseph  is  not  a  fallen  Prophet,  but  will  yet  be  ex- 
alted and  become  very  high. ' ' '' 

His  people  were  continuously  under  the  strain 
of  maintaining  their  faith,  while  their  eyes  saw 
and  their  ears  heard  so  much  from  this  man  that 

*'"The  Story  of  the  Mormons,"  by  Linn,  p.  183.  There 
have  been  several  small  factions  of  dissenting  Mormons 
who  have  entertained  this  same  conception. 

*^  Millennial  Star,  Vol.  16,  p.  602. 


56    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MORMONISM 

shocked  and  bewildered  them.  Just  a  short 
time  preceding  his  assassination  several  of  his 
leading  followers  banded  together  to  form  a  new 
Church.  The  following  is  an  extract  from  a 
letter  written  by  the  "Twelve  Apostles"  to 
England,  May  3,  1844: 

'*  William  and  Wilson  Law,  R.  D.  Foster,  C.  L. 
and  F.  Higbee,  Father  Cowles,  etc.,  have  organized 
a  new  Church  .  .  .  'Tis  the  same  old  story  over 
again — *  The  doctrine  is  right,  but  Joseph  is  a  fallen 
Prophet/''" 

The  publication  of  The  Nauvoo  Expositor,  in 
which  the  iniquities  of  this  man  were  set  forth 
in  striking  form,  on  June  7,  1844,  was  an  event 
of  such  great  importance  as  to  threaten  the 
future  existence  of  Mormonism.  The  nature  of 
the  charges  against  Smith  may  be  seen  by  the 
following  extract  taken  from  an  editorial  which 
appeared  in  the  Warsaw  Signal,  May  15, 1844 : 

**The  new  Church  appears  to  be  going  ahead.  On 
last  Sunday,  there  were  about  three  hundred  as- 
sembled at  Mr.  Law's  house  in  Nauvoo  and  listened 
with  much  seeming  pleasure,  to  a  sermon  from  Elder 
Blakely  who  denounced  Smith  as  a  fallen  Prophet. 
He  treated  the  spiritual  wife  doctrine  without  gloves 
and  repudiated  Smith's  plan  of  uniting  Church  and 
State."" 

**  Millennial  Star,  Vol.  2,  p.  422. 

*°  The  files  of  this  paper  arc  in  New  York  Public  I^ibrary. 


JOSEPH  SMITH,  JR.  57 

One  element  in  the  character  of  Smith  stands 
out  very  prominently,  namely,  his  use  of  mys- 
tery. He  based  his  fundamental  claims  upon 
the  idea  of  a  restoration  of  all  things  which  had 
formed  a  part  of  the  religious  life  of  the  people 
of  Bible  times. 

Concerning  a  social  event  described  in  his 
history  we  read : 

**We  then  partook  of  some  refreshment  and  our 
hearts  were  made  glad  with  the  fruit  of  the  vine. 
This  is  according  to  the  pattern  set  by  the  Saviour 
himself,  and  we  feel  disposed  to  patronize  all  the 
institutions  of  heaven."''^ 

His  own  revelations  forbade  the  drinking  of 
wine,  but  he  drank  it  too,  on  occasions  other 
than  at  wedding  feasts. 

**I  took  my  Mother  and  Aunt  Clarissa  in  a  car- 
riage and  accompanied  them  to  Painsville,  where  we 
procured  a  bottle  of  wine,  broke  bread,  ate  and 
drank  and  parted  after  the  ancient  order  with  the 
blessings  of  God."" 

Under  the  profession  of  being  true  to  the 
teaching  of  the  Scripture  and  the  restoration 
idea,  he  introduced  one  new  thing  after  another. 
At  Nauvoo,  Hlinois,  he  commanded  the  people 
to  build  a  Temple,  the  purpose  of  which  is  thus 
described : 

*"  Millennial  Star,  Vol.  15,  p.  583. 
"  Ibid.,  Vol.  15,  p.  744. 


68    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

'*Let  this  house  be  built  unto  my  name,  that  I 
may  reveal  mine  ordinances  therein,  unto  my  peo- 
ple; for  I  deign  to  reveal  unto  my  Church  things 
which  have  been  kept  hid  from  before  the  founda- 
tion of  the  world;  things  which  pertain  unto  the 
dispensation  of  the  fullness  of  times;  and  I  will 
show  unto  my  servant  Joseph  all  things  pertaining 
to  this  house  and  the  priesthood  thereof/'** 

In  the  same  connection  he  further  says : 

^'How  shall  your  washings  be  acceptable  unto  me, 
except  ye  perform  them  in  a  house  which  you  have 
built  unto  my  name  .  .  .  that  those  ordinances 
might  be  revealed  which  had  been  hid  from  before 
the  world  was;  therefore,  verily  I  say  unto  you, 
that  your  anointings  and  your  washings,  and  your 
baptisms  for  the  dead,  and  your  solemn  assemblies, 
and  your  memorials  for  your  sacrifices,  by  the  sons 
of  Levi,  and  for  your  oracles  in  your  most  holy 
places,  wherein  you  receive  conversations,  etc., 
etc."" 

The  Mormons  were  unable  to  carry  out  in  full 
detail  the  secret  rites  and  ceremonies  that  had 
thus  been  outlined  for  the  Temple  at  Nauvoo. 
In  Utah  and  vicinity  they  have  erected  several 
temples,  also  one  in  Canada  and  one  in  Hawaii, 
and  their  mystic  rites  and  endowment  cere- 
monies have  become  a  distinguishing  feature  of 
their  faith. 

*'"  Doctrine  and  Covenants,"  (R),  107:13. 
**  Ibid.,  107 :  12. 


JOSEPH  SMITH,  JE.  59 

Assuming  the  role  of  a  poet,  Smitli  wrote  a 
very  lengthy  poem,  a  verse  or  two  of  which  we 
here  insert  in  this  connection : 

^'Froin  the  Council  in  Kolob, '°  to  time  on  the  earth; 
And  for  ages  to  come  mito  them  will  I  show, 
My  pleasure  and  will  what  my  Kingdoms  will  do — 
Eternity's  wonders  they  truly  shall  know. 

''But  the  great  things  of  God  which  he  showed  unto 
me, 
Unlawful  to  utter,  I  dare  not  declare; 
They  surpass  all  the  wisdom  and  greatness  of  men, 
And  only  are  seen,  as  has  Paul,  where  they  are. 

**I,  Joseph  the  Prophet  in  spirit  beheld, 
And  the  eyes  of  the  inner  man  truly  did  see; 
Eternity  sketched  in  a  vision  from  God, 
Of  what  was,  and  now  is,  and  yet  is  to  be.''" 

It  was  under  the  disguise  of  mystery  that 
polygamy  was  introduced.  As  soon  as  the  world 
heard  about  it  the  Elders  were  warned  to  let  the 
mysteries  alone.  Doubtless,  polygamy  was  one 
of  the  secrets  which  Smith  had  declared,  in  the 
above  poem,  were  unlawful  to  utter,  nor  did  he 
dare  declare  it  in  public. 

That  he  did  declare  it  in  secret  to  Ms  follow- 
ers is  a  well-established  fact. 

For  a  human  being  to  assmne  all  that  is  im- 
plied in  these  authentic  quotations  is  a  wonder 

«*'  Referred  to  in  "  The  Book  of  Abraham." 
"*  Times  and  Seasons,  February  i,  1843. 


60    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

in  itself.  But  the  greater  wonder,  that  he 
should  be  able  to  influence  so  many  people  to 
believe  in  himself  and  the  immoral,  unchristian 
practices  which  he  instituted,  stands  before  us 
as  a  problem. 

When  his  followers  accepted  him  as  a  prophet 
and  a  revealer  of  God's  will,  for  many  of  them 
the  only  logical  thing  to  do  was  to  accept  with- 
out question  his  revelations  as  given. 

Shakespeare  says,  in  the  words  of  Bassanio : 

* '  In  religion, 
What  damned  error  but  some  sober  brow 
Will  bless  it,  and  approve  it  with  a  text, 
Hiding  the  grossness  with  fair  ornament.''" 

]^o  Mormon  ever  concedes  that  proof  of 
Smith's  personal  failings  affects  his  character 
as  a  prophet.  Jesus  said:  "  Ye  shall  know  them 
by  their  fruits,"  '"  and  it  would  seem  strange,  in 
view  of  such  a  test,  that  any  rational  person 
could  accept  Joseph  Smith  as  the  mouthpiece  of 
the  Almighty. 

A  study  of  the  character  of  his  early  followers 
shows  that  they  were  in  a  high  state  of  suscepti- 
bility. The  ancient  Athenians  are  not  alone  in 
their  desire  to  tell  and  hear  new  things."  Joseph 
Smith  was  able  to  play  upon  the  desire  of  the 
people  for  something  new  and  definite.    Against 

"  "  Merchant  of  Venice,"  Act  III,  scene  2. 

"  Matt.  7 :  i6.  "  Acts  17 :  21. 


JOSEPH  SMITH,  JB.  61 

the  tendency  of  mankind  to  seek  after  some  new- 
found way  of  life  and  duty,  Jesus  issues  His 
warning,  "  Beware  of  false  prophets."  " 

Phrenologists,  spiritualists,  mesmerists  and 
psychologists  have  variously  attempted  to  inter- 
pret his  more  or  less  abnormal  performances. 
Was  he  deceived  by  his  own  pretensions?  Are 
we  dealing  with  an  insane  man?  The  world 
may  ever  wonder  and  never  be  able  to  fully  sat- 
isfy all  inquiry  concerning  him.  The  same  is 
also  true  of  Mohammed  and  other  men  who  pos- 
sessed great  power  over  their  fellow-men. 

It  was  and  is  the  recognition  of  the  authority 
which  he  claimed  for  himself,  on  the  part  of  his 
followers,  that  served  to  bind  the  people  to- 
gether under  his  tyrannical  yoke. 

What  the  Mormons  and  all  others  need  to  rec- 
ognize is  this :  Jesus  Christ  is  the  one  and  only 
Mediator  between  God  and  man.  That  every 
soul  may  have  direct  access  to  God  by  Him. 
That  no  man  or  Avoman,  no  matter  what  they 
claim,  should  be  permitted  to  come  between  the 
Disciple  and  his  Lord  and  Master. 

Any  person  presuming  so  to  do  should  be  re- 
pudiated forthwith.  If  this  Scriptural  direc- 
tion had  been  observed  the  false  prophets  of  all 
time  would  have  found  it  most  difdcult  to  obtain 
a  following. 

'"'Matt.  7:15. 


m 

"THE  BOOK  OF  MOEMON" 

LIKE  Mohammedanism,  Mormonism  has 
also  produced  its  sacred  books.  Chief 
of  all  these  books  which  the  Mormons 
regard  as  sacred  and  inspired,  is  the  "  Book  of 
Mormon." 

This  book  was  first  printed  in  March,  1830. 
An  estimate  of  its  importance  is  given  by  its 
author,  Joseph  Smith,  in  the  following  words : 

**I  told  the  brethren  that  the  'Book  of  Mormon' 
was  the  most  correct  of  any  book  on  earth,  and  the 
keystone  of  our  religion;  and  a  man  would  get 
nearer  to  God  by  abiding  by  its  precepts  than  by 
any  other  book. "  * 

Smith's  story  concerning  the  origin  of  this 
book  may  be  briefly  stated  as  follows.  He  re- 
lates that  on  the  night  of  September  21,  1823, 
while  praying  in  his  room,  he  was  visited  by  an 
angel  who  told  him  that  there  was  a  book  de- 
posited, written  upon  Golden  Plates,  giving  an 
account  of  the  former  inhabitants  of  this  con- 

*  Millennial  Star,  Vol.  i8,  p.  790. 
62 


<^THE  BOOK  OF  MOEMON''  63 

tinent  and  tlie  source  from  which,  they  sprang. 
He  said  also  that  it  contained  the  fullness  of  the 
everlasting  gospel  as  preached  by  Jesus  to  the 
people  on  this  continent.  With  the  plates,  he 
was  told,  were  two  stones  in  silver  bows  known 
as  the  Urini  and  Thummim,  the  use  of  which 
had  constituted  men  as  seers  in  ancient  times, 
and  these  stones  God  had  prepared  for  the 
translation  of  the  book.' 

iNear  Manchester,  Ontario  County,  New 
York,  there  is  a  hill  of  considerable  size,  known 
as  "Mormon  Hill."  Smith  claimed  that  the 
angel  told  him  that  he  would  find  the  plates  on 
the  west  side,  not  far  from  the  top,  under  a  large 
stone,  deposited  in  a  stone  box.  When  he  went 
there  he  found  them;  but  again  the  angel  sud- 
denly appeared  and  forbade  him  to  take  them ; 
he  was  to  visit  the  place  every  year  at  the  same 
time  for  four  years,  then  the  plates  would  be 
delivered  unto  him. 

On  September  27,  1827,  he  claimed  the  an- 
gelic messenger  gave  the  plates  and  all  that  per- 
tained to  them  into  his  hands.  In  the  period 
intervening  between  the  time  of  receiving  the 
plates  and  the  publication.  Smith  was  engaged 
in  translating  them  into  the  English  language. 
He  claimed  the  inscriptions  on  the  plates  were 
written  in  the  "  Reformed  Egyptian.'^  He  knew 
nothing  whatever  about  ancient  languages  but 

* "  The  Story  of  the  Mormons,"  by  IJnn,  p.  31. 


64    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MORMONISM 

claimed  that  God  gave  him  inspiration  to  know 
the  contents  of  the  plates  by  means  of  the  stone 
referred  to. 
Whj  have  so  many  people  believed  in  this 

^  book?  The  Mormons  boldly  claim  that  it  has 
come  forth  in  fulfillment  of  Biblical  prophecy. 
Among  the  references  used  in  this  connection  by 
the  Mormon  Elder  are  the  thirty-seventh  chap- 
ter of  Ezekiel  and  the  eighteenth  and  twenty- 
ninth  chapters  of  Isaiah. 

The  common  people,  being  used  to  the  idea  of 

^     accepting  statements  uncritically,  made  on  the 

*  basis  of  the  proof  text  method,  and  knowing 
little  or  nothing  of  the  historical  conditions 
under  which  the  Biblical  prophecies  were  ut- 
tered, are  thereby  deceived  in  their  belief  that 
these  and  other  prophecies  refer  to  the  "  Book 
of  Mormon." 

Another  reason  is  that  the  Aborigines   of 

*  America  have  never  been  satisfactorily  ac- 
counted for ;  hence  the  claim  of  the  "  Book  of 
Mormon  "  to  be  a  revelation  of  the  secret  of  the 
origin  and  history  of  the  people  from  whom  the 
Indians  came,  is  of  great  interest  to  many 
people. 

Another  thing  of  interest :  It  was  the  habit  of 
Smith,  as  may  be  seen  all  through  his  history,  to 

*  secure  certificates  in  proof  of  any  point  he  con- 
sidered vital.  Accompanying  every  edition  of 
the  book  there  may  be  found  the  certified  testi- 


"THE  BOOK  OF  MOEMON»>  65 

mony  of  the  "  Three  Witnesses  "  and  the  "  Eight 
Witnesses/' 

How  could  three  rational  men  address  "  all 
nations,  kindreds,  tongues  and  people,''  and  say 
that  God  had  told  them,  that  these  plates  had 
been  "translated  by  the  gift  and  power  of 
God  " ;  and  that  "  an  angel  of  God  came  down 
from  heaven  and  he  brought  and  laid  before  our 
eyes,  that  we  beheld  and  saw  the  plates  and  the 
engravings  thereon ;  and  we  know  that  it  is  by 
the  grace  of  God  the  Father,  and  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  that  we  beheld  and  bear  record  that 
these  things  are  true  "?  ^  Less  interest  is  shown 
in  the  testimony  of  the  eight  witnesses.  In 
effect,  their  testimony  is,  "  that  the  said  Smith 
has  got  the  plates  of  which  we  have  spoken." 

That  these  testimonies  have  had  and  do  have 
great  weight  with  many  people  is  indisputable. 
Since  appeal  is  made  to  the  Bible,  the  Mormon 
may  reason  thus :  If  God  answered  by  means  of 
the  Urim  and  Thummim,*  in  ancient  times,  why 
not  to-day?  If  God  could  send  an  angel  to  His 
servant  Paul,  tempest  tossed  in  the  fury  of  a 
gale  at  sea,"  why  should  it  be  thought  a  thing  in- 
credible that  He  should  send  one  to  His  servant 
Joseph? 

Before  we  proceed  farther  we  wish  to  note 

^ "  The  Story  of  the  Mormons,"  by  Linn,  pp.  78-79- 
*i  Sam.  28:6;  Ezra  2:63;  Neh.  7:65;  Ex.  28:30. 
^  Acts  27 :  23. 


y 


66    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MORMONISM 

some  facts  appearing  in  the  early  history  of  the 
Mormons,  as  touching  the  incidents  and  events 
in  connection  with  the  translation  of  the  "  Book 
of  Mormon."  Shortly  after  Smith's  first  an- 
nouncement that  he  had  been  visited  by  an  angel 
his  mother  has  this  to  say  of  him : 

*' During  our  evening  conversations,  Joseph  would 
occasionally  give  us  some  of  the  most  amusing  re- 
citals that  could  be  imagined. 

He  would  describe  the  ancient  inhabitants  of  this 
continent,  their  dress,  mode  of  travelling,  and  the 
animals  upon  which  they  rode,  their  cities,  their 
ibuildings,  with  every  particular;  their  mode  of 
warfare,  and  also  their  religious  worship.  This  he 
would  do  with  as  much  ease,  seemingly,  as  if  he  had 
spent  his  whole  life  with  them."  ° 

Is  it  not  strange  that  Smith  should  know  all 
this  long  before  he  began  the  translation  of  the 
plates,  which  he  claimed  contained  the  revela- 
tion? How  could  he  tell  these  stories  men- 
tioned by  his  mother?  It  is  a  well-know^n  fact 
that  persons  of  low  mentality  may  have  phe- 
nomenal memories  and  unusual  power  of  vivid 
imagination.  In  his  method  of  translation  of 
the  plates,  as  related  by  his  wife,  who  wrote  out 
his  dictation  in  part,  she  says : 

\  **I  frequently  wrote  day  after  day,  often  sitting 

close  to  the  table  by  him,  he  sitting  with  his  face 

""Biographical  Sketches,"  by  Lticy  Smith,  (R),  p.  92. 


^^THE  BOOK  OF  MOBMON^^  67 

buried  in  his  hat,  with  the  stone  in  it  and  dictating 
hour  after  hour  with  nothing  between  us    .    .    . 

Joseph  Smith  could  neither  write  nor  dictate  a 
coherent  and  well  worded  letter;  let  alone  dictating 
a  book  like  the  'Book  of  Mormon'  ...  I  did 
not  attempt  to  handle  the  plates,  other  than  I  have 
told  you,  nor  uncover  them  to  look  at  them.  I  was 
satisfied  it  was  the  work  of  God  and  therefore  did 
not  feel  it  to  be  necessary  to  do  so. " ' 

A  very  unsuspecting,  trustful  wife  indeed! 
Most  people  would  have  been  curious  to  see 
those  wonderful  plates.  How  could  he  translate 
from  the  plates  of  gold  with  his  sight  obstructed, 
his  face  buried  in  a  hat?  If  he  did  not  need  to 
see  the  plates  while  translating  them,  why  were 
they  given  him  for  that  purpose?  Why  use  one 
stone  when  two  were  given  for  this  work?  Who 
is  correct? — his  mother,  who  says  Joseph  could 
give  a  whole  recital  with  ease,  or  his  wife,  who  ^ 
says  he  could  not  dictate  a  coherent  letter?      J 

In  the  early  history  of  Mormonism,  it  is  of 
vital  interest  to  note  that  there  were  rival  stones 
and  rival  revelations  coming  from  them.  Hiram 
Page,  one  of  the  eight  witnesses  referred  to, 
tried  his  hand  at  the  business.  Joseph  Smith 
says  of  this  : 

**  Brother  Hiram  Page  had  got  in  his  possession  a 
certain  stone,  by  which  he  had  obtained  certain  reve- 
lations, concerning  the  upbuilding  of  Zion,  the  order 
'"Qh.u^h  History."  (R),  3:356-357. 


68    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MORMONISM 

of  the  Church,  etc.,  etc.,  all  of  which  were  at  vari- 
ance with  the  order  of  God's  house  as  laid  down  in 
the  New  Testament  as  well  as  in  our  late  revelations. 
Finding  that  many,  especially  the  Whitmer  fam- 
ily and  Oliver  Cowdery  (two  of  the  three  witnesses 
referred  to)  were  believing  much  in  the  thing  set 
forth  by  this  stone,  we  thought  best  to  enquire  of 
the  Lord  concerning  so  important  a  matter."^ 

David  Whitmer,  Oliver  Cowdery  and  Martin 
Harris  were  the  men  who  gave  the  certificate, 
saying  that  an  angel  showed  them  the  Gold 
Plates.  Here  we  find  Whitmer  and  Cowdery 
giving  credit  to  revelations  coming  from  a  dif- 
ferent source.  Joseph  soon  got  a  revelation 
which  told  him : 

'^Thou  shalt  take  thy  brother  Hiram  Page,  be- 
tween him  and  thee  alone,  and  tell  him  that  those 
things  which  he  hath  written  from  that  stone  are 
not  of  me,  and  Satan  deceiveth  him."* 

And  notwithstanding  the  Mormons  claim  a 
complete  restoration  of  primitive  Christianity, 
with  the  charismatic  gifts  and  spontaneous  reve- 
lations, Smith  claimed  the  sole  right  to  receive 
all  such  for  the  Church.    By  revelation  he  says : 

**No  one  shall  be  appointed  to  receive  revelations 
in  this  Church  excepting  my  servant  Joseph  Smith, 
Jr.,  for  he  receiveth  them  even  as  Moses;  and  thou 

«"  Church  History,"  (R),  i:ii8. 
^"Doctrine  and  Covenants,"  (R),  p.  64. 


**THE  BOOK  OF  MOEMON»»  69 

shalt  be  obedient  unto  the  things  which  I  shall  give 
unto  him."" 

The  Prophet's  mother,  speaking  of  events 
about  the  same  time,  says : 

''A  certain  young  woman  who  was  living  at  David 
\Yhitmer's,  uttered  a  prophecy,  which  she  said  was 
given  her  by  looking  through  a  black  stone  that  she 
had  found  .  .  .  that  David  Whitmer  or  Martin 
Harris  would  fill  Joseph's  place.''" 

As  a  result  of  these  revelations — the  effect 
they  had  upon  the  Mormons  about  Kirtland,  she 
says : 

"They  circulated  a  paper  in  order  to  ascertain 
how  many  would  follow  them  and  it  was  found  that 
a  great  proportion  of  the  Church  were  decidedly  in 
favor  of  the  new  party.'' " 

These  statements  show  how  susceptible  "were 
the  Mormon  peo^jle  in  their  willingness  to  re- 
ceive these  pretended  revelations.  David  Whit- 
mer tells  us  of  other  use  made  of  the  stone  than 
that  of  translation : 

''Brother  Hyrum  (Smith)  said  it  had  been  sug- 
gested to  him  that  some  of  the  brethren  might  go 
to  Toronto,  Canada,  and  sell  the  copyright  of  the 
'Book  of  Mormon'  for  considerable  money,  and 
he  persuaded  Joseph  to  enquire  of  the  Lord  about 
it.    Joseph  concluded  to  do  so. 

""Doctrine  and  Covenants,"  (R),  p.  63. 

"History  by  lyucy  Smith,  (R),  p.  222.        ^- Ibid.,  p.  223. 


70    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

He  had  not  yet  given  up  the  stone.  Joseph  looked 
into  the  hat,  in  which  he  placed  the  stone  and  re- 
ceived a  revelation  that  some  of  the  brethren  should 
go  to  Toronto,  Canada,  and  that  they  would  sell  the 
copyright  of  the  *Book  of  Mormon.' 

Hiram  Page  and  Oliver  Cowdery  went  to  Toronto, 
on  this  mission,  but  they  failed  entirely  to  sell  the 
copyright,  returning  without  any  money    .    .     . 

Joseph  did  not  know  how  it  was,  so  he  enquired 
of  the  Lord  about  it,  and  Behold !  the  following  rev- 
elation came  through  the  stone,  'Some  revelations 
are  of  God;  some  revelations  are  of  man  and  some 
revelations  are  of  the  devil. '  ' '  ^ 

Some  time  later  the  three  witnesses  were  ex- 
pelled from  the  Mormon  Church.  Soon  after- 
ward Cowdery  wrote  a  "  Defense/^  in  which  he 
says: 

''Brother  Page  and  I  did  not  think  that  God 
would  have  deceived  us  through  Urim  and  Thum- 
mim,  exactly  as  came  the  'Book  of  Mormon';  and  I 
well  remember  how  hard  I  strove  to  drive  away  the 
foreboding  that  seized  me,  that  the  First  Elder 
(Joseph  Smith)  had  made  tools  of  us,  where  we 
thought  in  the  simplicity  of  our  hearts  that  we  were 
divinely  commissioned."" 

From  the  standpoint  of  the  Mormons,  the 
"  Book  of  Mormon  "  is  presented  with  its  claims 

"Whitmer's  Address,  pp.  30-31. 

"O.  Cowdery's  "Defense  and  Renunciation,"  p.  5 
(pamphlet). 


**THE  BOOK  OF  MOEMON^'  71 

for  acceptance,  first,  as  a  divinely  translated 
book ;  second,  as  a  book  whose  source  was  given 
by  angelic  ministration,  as  witnessed  by  three 
men:  David  Whitmer,  Oliver  Cowdery  and 
Martin  Harris. 

Having  given  some  attention  to  the  claim  of 
translation,  we  will  now  consider  additional 
light  with  reference  to  the  witnesses.  Smith 
tells  us  that  in  the  course  of  translation  he  came 
to  a  part  which  told  him  that  three  witnesses 
would  be  chosen  to  bear  record  of  the  same. 
Almost  immediately  thereafter  he  tells  us  the 
above-mentioned  persons : 

**  Would  have  me  inquire  of  the  Lord,  to  know  if 
they  might  not  obtain  of  Him  to  be  these  three  spe- 
cial witnesses;  and  finally  they  became  so  very  so- 
licitous, and  teased  me  so  much,  that  at  length  I 
complied,  and  through  the  Urim  and  Thummim,  I 
obtained  for  them  the  following  revelation." 

''It  is  by  your  faith  that  you  shall  obtain  a  view 
of  them,  even  by  that  faith  which  was  had  by  the 
Prophets  of  old ;  and  after  you  have  obtained  faith, 
and  have  seen  with  your  eyes,  you  shall  testify  of 
them  by  the  power  of  God.  And  this  you  shall  do 
that  my  servant  Joseph  Smith,  Jr.,  may  not  be  des- 
troyed.'^'^ 

Think  of  these  men  "  teasing  "  Smith  for  the 
honor  of  seeing  an  angel !    Note  the  motive  un- 

«"  Church  History,"  (R),  1:45. 


72    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

derlying  the  whole  thing ;  that  Smith  "  may  not 
be  destroyed."  In  accordance  with  their  expec- 
tations, Smith  and  the  three  "  witnesses  "  went 
to  the  woods  to  try  to  obtain  by  fervent  prayer 
the  fulfillment  of  the  promise. 

Not  succeeding  at  first,  Martin  Harris  retired 
from  the  group  and  they  prayed  again. 

*'When  presently  we  beheld  a  light  above  us  in 
the  air  of  exceeding  brightness,  and  behold  an  angel 
stood  before  us. 

In  his  hands  he  held  the  plates  which  we  had  been 
praying  for  these  to  have  a  view  of.  He  turned  over 
the  leaves  one  by  one,  so  we  could  see  them  and  dis- 
cover the  engravings  thereon  distinctly.'*^' 

Smith  said  the  angel  commanded  them  to  tes- 
tify that  the  translation  he  had  given  was  cor- 
rect. Then  he  went  in  pursuit  of  Martin  Harris, 
whom  he  found  a  short  distance  away  engaged 
in  prayer,  but  as  yet  had  received  no  answer. 

*'We  accordingly  joined  in  prayer  and  ultimately 
obtained  our  desires,  for  before  we  had  yet  finished 
the  same  vision  was  opened  to  our  view;  at  least,  it 
was  again  to  me,  and  I  once  more  beheld  and  heard 
the  same  things;  while  at  the  same  moment  Martin 
Harris  cried  out,  apparently  in  ecstasy  of  joy,  *  'Tis 
enough,  mine  eyes  have  beheld. '  "  " 

This  was  a  strange  experience  indeed!  It 
would  not  be  worthy  of  notice  only  for  the  fact 

"  "  Church  History,"  (R) ,  i :  45-46.  "  Ihid. 


<^THE  BOOK  OF  MORMON"  73 

that  it  lias  such  a  place  of  prominence  in  the 
foundations  of  Mormonism.  The  Mormons  ac- 
cept this  narrative  as  descriptive  of  a  real  trans- 
action, while  their  Prophet  refers  to  it  as  a 
"  vision.'' 

This  vision  of  the  Golden  Plates  in  the  hands 
of  the  angel  occurred  during  the  process  of 
translation  while  they  were  yet  in  the  hands  of 
Smith.  How  it  comes  that  the  angel  had  them 
in  his  possession,  at  this  time,  does  not  appear. 
Smith  claimed  that  he  gave  them  back  into  the 
hands  of  the  angel  after  he  finished  the  transla- 
tion. The  claim  that  he  had  them  to  exhibit  at 
this  time  arouses  suspicion. 

Since  these  men  were  so  "  solicitous  "  to  see 
this  sight  and  had  "  teased  "  for  the  privilege, 
we  observe  that  their  minds  were  prepared  for 
any  illusion.  Seeing  angels  has  been  a  very  com- 
mon thing  in  Mormon  history.  A  little  later, 
after  the  disruption  of  the  Church  at  Nauvoo, 
there  were  several  men  who  aspired  to  fill  the 
slain  prophet's  place.  Among  these  was  his 
right-hand  man,  Sidney  Eigdon.  He  succeeded 
in  winning  several  to  follow  him  and  w^ent  to 
Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania.  At  a  conference  held 
there  in  April,  1845,  he  and  his  followers  had 
some  remarkable  experiences,  a  selection  from 
which  follows : 

*'The  spirit  whispered  to  me  this  morning  to  set 


74    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MORMONISM 

apart  some  brethren  and  consecrate  them  to  God,  in 
a  room  in  my  house  which  I  did ;  and  after  washing 
and  anointing  and  the  partriarchal  seal,  as  the 
Lord  had  directed  me,  we  kneeled  and  in  solemn 
prayer  we  asked  the  Lord  to  accept  what  we  had 
done. 

During  the  time  of  prayer  there  appeared  over 
our  heads  in  the  room,  a  ray  of  light  forming  a 
hollow  square,  inside  of  which  stood  a  company  of 
heavenly  messengers,  each  with  a  banner  in  his  hand 
with  their  eyes  looking  downward  upon  us    .     .     . 

There  also  appeared  heavenly  messengers  on  horse- 
back with  crowns  upon  their  heads  and  plumes  float- 
ing in  the  air  dressed  in  glorious  attire.  .  .  . 
Even  my  little  son  saw  the  vision  and  gazed  with 
astonishment  .  .  .  after  which  we  arose  and 
lifted  our  hands  to  heaven  in  holy  convocation  to 
God,  at  which  time  it  was  shown,  an  angel  in  heaven 
registering  the  acceptance  of  our  work,  and  the  de- 
cree of  the  great  God,  that  the  kingdom  is  ours  and 
we  shall  prevail.*'" 

This  testimony  Mr.  Rigdon  published  in  his 
paper  and,  strange  to  note,  some  accepted  it  as 
true.  Those  very  men  engaged  with  him  in  this 
strange  religious  exercise  doubtless  believed 
they  saw  what  he  has  described.  Time  is  the 
sure  test  of  all  such  illusions.  His  new  Church 
gained  but  little  strength,  and  finally  came  to 
naught. 

Another   instance   of  the   same   kind:    Mr. 

^^  Messenger  and  Advocate,  1845,  P-  185. 


"THE  BOOK  OF  MOEMON»'  T6 

James  Strang,  another  rival  claimant  of  the 
leadership  of  the  Church  after  the  death  of  the 
Prophet,  says : 

*'An  angel  of  God  appeared  unto  him  at  half  past 
five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  June  27,  1844,  and 
ordained  him  to  lead  the  people. ' ' " 

He  was  able  to  secure  quite  a  following  from 
among  his  brethren.  He  claimed  to  have  found, 
by  divine  direction,  some  more  plates,  known  as 
the  plates  of  Laban.  From  these  he  made  a 
translation;  it  was  published  and  is  known  as 
"The  Book  of  the  Law."  He  found  "wit- 
nesses "  who  viewed  the  plates  and  gave  their 
written  testimony  as  did  the  Prophet  Joseph. 
He  established  his  headquarters  on  Beavers 
Island,  in  the  State  of  Wisconsin,  and  received 
numerous  revelations  like  all  good  Mormons. 
His  followers  have  become  almost  extinct.  All  ^■ 
these  examples  illustrate  the  credulity  of  the 
Mormon  people.  Without  that  Mormonism 
would  have  failed  utterly. 

From  Mormon  sources  we  have  the  following 
concerning  the  character  of  the  "three  wit- 
nesses," upon  whom  the  Mormons  place  such 
reliance.    Smith  writes  about  them : 

*'Such  characters  as  McLellin,  John  Whitmer,  Da- 
vid Whitmer,  Oliver  Cowdery  and  Martin  Harris 

" "  Church  History,"  (R),  3 :  38. 


76    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

are  too  mean  to  mention  and  we  had  like  to  have 
forgotten  them. 

Marsh  and  another  whose  hearts  are  full  of  cor- 
ruption, whose  cloak  of  hypocrisy  was  not  sufficient 
to  shield  them/"" 

In  a  document  signed  by  eighty-three  leading 
men  of  the  Church  at  Far  West,  Missouri,  June, 
1838,  the  following  reference  is  made  to  Cow- 
dery  and  Whitmer : 

''After  Cowdery  had  been  taken  by  a  state  war- 
rant for  stealing,  and  the  stolen  property  was  found 
in  the  house  of  W.  W.  Phelps  .  .  .  Oliver  Cow- 
dery, David  Whitmer  .  .  .  united  with  a  gang 
of  counterfeiters,  thieves,  liars  and  black  legs  of  the 
deepest  dye  .  .  .  During  the  full  career  of 
Oliver  Cowdery  and  David  Whitmer 's  bogus  money 
business  it  got  abroad,  etc.  They  were  warned  to 
leave  Far  West,  for  '  Vengeance  sleepeth  not,  neither 
does  it  slumber, '  they  were  told  and  they  left. ' ' " 

These  men  were  expelled  from  the  Church, 
with  such  charges  against  them.  These  facts 
are  not  generally  known  by  the  Mormons.  Whit- 
mer placed  himself  at  the  head  of  a  factional 
Church  known  as  the  "  Whitmer ites,''  which  has 
since  become  extinct.  It  is  claimed  that  Harris 
and  Cowdery  sought  shelter  with  the  Utah 
Church  very  late  in  their  lives. 

""^  Millennial  Star,  Vol.  i6,  pp.  626-628. 
^'  "  Correspondence  Orders,"  etc.,  pp.   103-105.     Published 
by  I^egislature  of  Missouri,  1841. 


''  THE  BOOK  OF  MOEMON  "  77 

It  is  stoutly  afarmed  by  all  Mormons  that 
the  three  witnesses  never  denied  their  written 
testimony  although  they  were  estranged  from 
the  Church. 

We  have  set  forth,  very  briefly,  Smith's  story 
of  how  the  book  came  into  his  possession ;  some 
reasons  why  it  has  appealed  to  the  people ;  some 
of  the  incidents  and  events  in  connection  with 
its  translation,  showing  superstition  and  rival 
revelations  on  the  part  of  early  Mormons;  we 
have  shown  the  credulity  of  the  three  witnesses 
who  were  willing  to  give  credit  to  rival  revela- 
tions, whose  testimony,  according  to  Smith,  was 
a  "  vision  "  by  faith,  rather  than  the  reality  the 
Mormons  believe  it  to  have  been,  and  also,  some 
testimony  from  Mormon  sources  as  to  the  char- 
acter of  these  men. 

What  of  the  book  itself?  'No  serious  consid- 
eration has  ever  been  given  it  by  men  of  science. 
It  is  considered  a  fabrication,  reflecting  many 
of  the  current  religious  and  moral  issues  of  the 
time  and  locality  of  its  forthcoming.  Alexander 
Campbell,  noting  the  mixture  of  doctrines  in  the 
book,  says : 

''He  (the  author)  decides  all  the  great  contro- 
versies discussed  in  New  York  State  in  the  last  ten 
years.  Infant  baptism,  the  trinity,  regeneration, 
repentance,  justification,  the  fall  of  man,  transub- 
stantiation,  fasting,  penance,  church  government,  the 
call  to  the  ministry,  the  general  resurrection,  eternal 


78    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMOKISM 

punishment,  who  may  baptize,  and  even  the  ques- 
tion of  Free  Masonry,  republican  government  and 
the  rights  of  man.'' " 

There  is  throughout  the  book  an  imitation 

of  the  style  of  the  Holy  Scriptures.     Whole 

'^^   chapters  are  incorporated  word  for  word.    In 

the  later  editions  of  the  book  due  credit  is  given 

of  the  source. 

yThus  one  may  find/'  Isaiah  48  and  49,  also 
Malachi  3  and  4,  Matthew  5,  6  and  7,  and  1  Cor- 
inthians 13  may  also  be  found  quoted  verbatim. 
Besides  these  one  may  find  direct  quotations 
from  the  New  Testament,  sentences  and  verses, 
estimated  at  298,  between  pages  2  to  428." 
There  are  many  anachronisms  in  the  book.  It 
.  is  full  of  incidental  proofs  of  the  fraudulent  pro- 
fession that  its  translation  is  divine. 

In  incorporating,  6.  g.^  1  Corinthians  13 : 5,  the 
phrase  "  is  not  easily  provoked  ''  is  retained,  as 
in  the  King  James  edition.  But  the  word 
"  easily  "  is  not  found  in  the  Greek  manuscripts 
and  is  dropped  in  the  Eevised  Version. 

In  1898,  Mr.  Lamoni  Call,  of  Bountiful,  Utah, 
aroused  the  indignation  of  his  Mormon  brethren 
'     by  the  publication  of  a  book  of  128  pages  en- 
titled, "  2,000  Changes  in  the  Book  of  Mormon." 
/      Comparison  of  any  recent  edition  with  the 
original  edition  of  1830  will  show  how  the  words 

^'  "  The  Story  of  the  Mormons,"  p.  98^ 

"/diU,  p.  97.  "^  Ibid.,  p.  96. 


'*THE  BOOK  OF  MORMON"  79 

have  been  changed  and  grammatical  errors  cor- 
rected. As  each  word  was  given  as  from  God 
through  the  Urim  and  Thummim,  the  changes 
arouse  suspicion. 

There  have  been  many  attempts  to  account  for 
the  origin  of  the  book.  One  principal  theory  is 
that  it  was  borrowed  from  the  writings  of  Solo- 
mon Spaulding.  Since  that  theory  was  put 
forth  a  manuscript  written  by  Mr.  Spaulding 
was  accidentally  discovered  among  the  effects  of 
Mr.  Kice,  in  Honolulu,  and  is  now  in  the  library 
of  Oberlin  College.  Mr.  Kice,  President  Fair- 
child  and  others  compared  this  manuscript  with 
the  "Book  of  Mormon,"  with  the  result  that 
they  could  detect  no  resemblance  between  the 
two  in  general  detail.  Later  President  Fair- 
child  said :  "  The  discovery  of  this  manuscript 
does  not  prove  that  there  may  not  have  been  an- 
other, which  became  the  basis  of  the  '  Book  of 
Mormon.' " '' 

Whatever  was  its  origin,  the  proof  of  its 
worth  must  be  in  the  practical  purpose  it  has 
served.  Its  declared  purpose  is  twofold.  First, 
It  is  a  message  to  the  Indians  of  North  America. 
Second,  It  is  to  convince  Jew  and  Gentile  that 
Jesus  is  the  Christ. 

1.  Agreeably  with  the  idea  that  the  book 
would  be  of  great  interest  to  the  Indians,  some 
of  the  first  Mormon  Elders  journeyed  to  the 

*^ "  Islam  of  America,"  p.  46. 


80    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

West  and  introduced  it  to  some  of  them.  iNeed- 
less  to  say  that  it  has  utterly  failed  to  make 
any  impression  worthy  of  notice.  There  are 
very  few  Indians  who  hold  membership  in  any 
branch  of  the  Mormon  Church.  If  that  book 
was  a  gift  of  God  to  the  Indians,  He  has  no 
thanks  from  them  for  it. 

2.  How  many  Jews  or  Gentiles  have  been 
convinced  by  this  book  that  Jesus  is  the  Christ? 
The  Mormon  Elder  usually  resorts  to  passages 
of  Scripture  to  prove  the  points  of  his  conten- 
tion. Yery  few  Jews  have  ever  identified  them- 
selves with  Mormonism.  The  book  has  utterly 
failed  so  far  as  its  mission  to  them  is  concerned. 
The  converts  that  have  been  won  to  Mormonism 
have,  in  very  large  measure,  come  from  the 
Evangelical  Churches  of  Christendom,  who  be- 
lieve that  Jesus  is  the  Christ.  Hence  the  book 
has  utterly  failed  in  its  own  declared  purpose. 

One  of  the  fruits  of  the  teaching  of  this  book, 
according  to  its  declaration,  is  that  it  shall  go 
forth  among  the  people : 

'^Unto  the  eonfounding  of  false  doctrines,  and  lay- 
ing down  of  contentions,  and  establishing  peace 
among  the  frnit  of  thy  loins,  and  bringing  them  to 
the  knowledge  of  their  fathers  in  the  latter  days/''" 

What  are  the  facts?    Instead  of  confounding 

^'"'Book  of  Mormon,"  (R),  authorized  edition,  p.  BS, 


*«THE  BOOK  OF  MOEMON^'  81 

false  doctrine,  putting  down  contentions  and 
bringing  peace,  its  teaching  has  itself  become  a 
matter  of  contention  among  the  Mormons  them- 
selves, some  of  them  holding  that  it  authorizes 
the  iDractice  of  polygamy  when  commanded, 
others  denying  it. 

Any  changes  for  the  better  that  have  come  in 
the  course  of  Christian  history  since  the  publi- 
cation of  the  "  Book  of  Mormon,"  certainly  can- 
not truly  be  credited  to  the  influence  of  that 
book.    In  this  respect  it  has  failed. 

Such  is  the  book  whose  inspiration  is  un- 
doubted by  the  thousands  of  persons  who  con- 
stitute the  Mormon  Church.  Orson  Pratt,  a 
noted  Mormon,  said :  "  The  nature  of  the  mes- 
sage of  the  ^  Book  of  Mormon '  is  such  that,  if 
true,  none  can  be  saved  who  reject  it,  and,  if 
false,  none  can  be  saved  who  receive  it."  " 

Brigham  Young  said :  "  Every  spirit  that  con- 
fesses that  Joseph  Smith  is  a  prophet,  that  he 
lived  and  died  a  prophet,  and  that  the  '  Book  of 
Mormon '  is  true,  is  of  God,  and  every  spirit  that 
does  not  is  of  anti-Christ." '' 

Speaking  of  the  facts  of  Christianity,  Paul 
declared,  "  this  thing  was  not  done  in  a  cor- 
ner," ''  but  no  exponent  of  Mormonism  can  ever 
say  as  much  for  the  "  Book  of  Mormon." 

It  has  utterly  failed  to  make  any  serious  im- 

""The  Story  of  the  Mormons,"  p.  98. 

^^Ihid,  ''Acts  26:26. 


^ 


82    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

pression  upon  anj  persons,  unless  it  be  the 
Mormons. 

It  has  made  no  valuable  contribution  to 
knowledge  or  religion.  It  is  a  cunningly  devised 
fable  that  requires  ignorance,  credulity,  and  su- 
perstition in  order  that  one  may  believe  in  it. 


"THE  BOOK  OF   COMMANDMENTS" 

THIS  is  the  second  sacred  book  published 
by  the  Mormons.  It  is  a  very  small 
book  and  very  few  copies  are  known  to 
be  in  existence.'  Doubtless,  all  Mormons  of  to- 
day would  like  to  have  forgotten  that  it  ever 
existed.  It  contained  sixty-five  revelations 
which  Joseph  Smith  claimed  God  gave  to  him. 

It  was  published  at  Independence,  Missouri, 
otherwise  known  to  the  Mormons  as  "  Zion,"  in 
1833,  by  W.  W.  Phelps  and  Company.  On  the 
title  page  occur  the  words,  "  Copyright  Secured 
According  to  Law." 

In  1835,  leading  men  of  the  Mormon  Church 
got  together  at  Kirtland,  Ohio,  and  relegated 
this  "  Book  of  Commandments  "  to  the  scrap 
heap,  having  changed  the  wording  of  the  revela- 
tions and  modified  the  principles  and  utterances 
contained  therein.  Hence  a  new  book  emerged 
known  as  "Doctrine  and  Covenants."  It  is 
rather  embarrassing  to  the  Mormons  of  to-day 
to  face  the  facts  regarding  these  changed  reve- 

*  The  Author  has  seen  five  copies  of  this  old  book. 
83 


84    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

lations.  It  is  difficult  to  see  how  an  unchange- 
able God  can  give  changeable  revelations. 

The  Keorganized  Church  has  attempted  to 
explain  the  matter  by  asserting  that  the  book 
was  never  completed,  owing  to  the  destruction 
of  the  printing  press  by  a  mob  of  infuriated 
Missourians ;  also,  that  when  compared  with  the 
originals  the  revelations  were  found  to  be  incor- 
rect. 

The  following  is  the  explanation  given : 

*'The  ^Book  of  Commandments'  was  still  in  an 
unfinished  condition  when  the  press  was  destroyed, 
and  with  other  papers  the  sheets  were  scattered  in 
the  streets.  Some  of  these  scattered  sheets  were 
gathered  up  by  private  parties  and  preserved,  but 
the  volumes  on  account  of  these  circumstances  are 
very  scarce.  These  when  compared  with  original 
manuscripts  were  found  to  be  very  faulty,  and 
hence  the  book  has  never  been  republished  nor  in- 
dorsed by  the  Church." ' 

There  is  much  evidence  which  may  be  pro- 
duced from  authentic  sources  which  is  not  in 
agreement  with  this  explanation,  given  by  the 
historian  of  the  Keorganized  Church.  Mr. 
Phelps,  who  printed  these  revelations,  had  been 
appointed  by  revelation  as  a  "  Printer  unto  the 
Church."  He  was  assigned  the  task  of  printing 
this  book  and  Oliver  Cowdery  was  to  assist  him 

^Journal  of  History,  (R),  Vol.  5,  p.  148. 


*^THE  BOOK  OF  COMMANDMENTS '»      85 

by  copying,  selecting,  etc.,  "  that  all  things  may 
be  right  before  me," '  as  directed  by  revelation. 
Cowdery,  accompanied  by  John  Whitmer,  took 
these  revelations  from  Ohio  to  Missouri,  where 
they  were  printed.  There  was  some  difQ.culty  in 
getting  them  bound  in  book  form.  A  consider- 
able time  before  the  press  was  destroyed.  Smith 
wrote  Phelps  as  follows : 

*' First,  as  respects  getting  the  'Book  of  Command- 
ments' bomid,  we  think  that  it  is  not  necessary.  They 
will  be  sold  well  without  binding,  and  there  is  no 
book  binder  to  be  had  as  we  know  of,  nor  are  there 
materials  to  be  had  for  binding,  without  keeping 
the  book  too  long  from  circulation.''  * 

The  surviving  copies  of  this  book  show  that 
they  were  bound  not  in  a  manner  in  keeping 
with  skilled  workmanship — ^but  they  were 
bound  in  a  book !  This  is  the  point.  About  the 
same  time  Smith  wrote  again : 

''Consign  the  box  of  the  Books  of  Commandments, 
to  N.  K.  Whitney  and  Co.,  Kirtland,  Geauga  County, 
Ohio ;  Care  of  Kelley  &  Walworth,  Cleveland,  Cuy- 
ahoga County,  01iio.''° 

Mr.  Phelps  had  printed  many  of  these  reve- 
lations in  a  periodical  called  The  Evening  and 
the  Morning  Star.     Copies  had  been  sent  back 

"'Doctrine  and  Covenants,"   (R),  57:5  also  69:1. 

*  Times  and  Seasons,  Vol.  6,  p.  800.  °  Ibid.,  p.  802. 


86    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

to  the  heads  of  the  Church  in  Ohio.    In  a  letter 
from  Smith  he  says : 

*  *  The  following  errors  we  have  found  in  the  Com- 
mandments as  printed :  fortieth  chapter,  tenth  verse, 
third  line,  instead  of  corruptible,  put  corrupted. 
Fourteenth  verse  of  the  same  chapter,  fifth  line,  in- 
stead of  respecter  to  persons,  put  respecter  of  per- 
sons. 

Forty-fourth  chapter,  twelfth  verse,  last  line,  in- 
stead of  hands  put  heads. ' '  ° 

These  statements  show  that  the  book  was  in 
form  as  a  book  and  the  errors  were  only  such  as 
are  common  in  copying  and  printing. 

But  when  we  examine  this  revelation  referred 
to,  as  it  reappeared  in  the  ^*  Doctrine  and  Cove- 
nants ''  in  1835,  we  find  more  than  one  hundred 
words  are  added  and  many  words  taken  there- 
from.   Here  is  an  example  of  the  changes  made : 

BOOK  OF  COMMAND-  DOCTRINE   AND 

MENTS  COVENANTS 

"If  thou  lovest  me  thou  "If  thou  lovest  me,  thou 
shalt  serve  me  and  keep  all  shalt  serve  me  and  keep  all 
my  commandments ;  and  be-  my  commandments.  And  l:)e- 
hold.  thou  shalt  consecrate  all  hold,  thou  wilt  remember  the 
thy  properties,  that  which  poor,  and  consecrate  of  thy 
thou  hast  unto  me,  with  a  properties  for  their  support, 
covenant  and  a  deed  which  that  which  thou  hast  to  im- 
cannot  be  broken;  and  they  part  unto  them,  with  a  cove- 
shall  be  laid  before  the  bishop  nant  and  a  deed  which  can- 
of  my  Church,  and  two  of  the  not  be  broken ;  and  inasmuch 
elders,  such  as  he  shall  ap-  as  ye  impart  of  your  sub- 
point  and  set  apart  for  that  stance  unto  the  poor,  ye  will 
purpose.  do  it  unto  me,  and  they  shall 

^  Times  and  Seasons,  Vol.  6,  pp.  800-801. 


**THE  BOOK  OF  COMMANDMENTS^'      87 

And  it  shall  come  to  pass  be  laid  before  the  bishop  of 
that  the  Bishop  of  my  Church,  my  Church  and  his  counsel- 
after  that  he  has  received  the  ors,  two  of  the  elders  or  high 
properties  of  my  Church,  that  priests,  such  as  he  shall  or 
it  cannot  be  taken  from  the  has  appointed  and  set  apart 
Church,  he  shall  appoint  every  for  that  purpose, 
man  a  steward  over  his  own  And  it  shall  come  to  pass 
property,  or  that  which  he  after  they  are  laid  before  the 
has  received,  inasmuch  as  is  bishop  of  my  Church,  and 
sufficient  for  himself  and  after  that  he  has  received 
family."  '  these    testimonies   concerning 

the  consecration  of  the  prop- 
erties of  my  Church,  agree- 
ably to  my  commandments; 
every  man  shall  be  made  ac- 
countable unto  me,  a  steward 
over  his  own  property,  or 
that  which  he  has  received  by 
consecration,  inasmuch  as  is 
sufficient  for  himself  and 
family." « 

From  this  may  be  seen  how  the  revelations 
were  tampered  with;  not  only  the  words  being 
changed  but  new  ideas  introduced  as  well.  Note 
that  there  is  a  vast  difference  between  consecra- 
tion of  "  all  ^'  thy  properties  '^  unto  me  '^  and 
the  consecration  "of"  thy  properties  unto 
"  them,"  the  poor.  Note  also,  the  reference  to 
"  High  Priests,"  not  mentioned  in  the  original. 
This  may  be  explained  by  the  fact  that  the  com- 
ing of  High  Priests  was  an  aftermath.  Smith 
was  continually  adding  something  new  to  his 
new-found  religion  and  the  High  Priests  was 
one  of  the  latest  things  evolved.  He  must  needs 
make  a  place  for  them  even  if  that  necessitated 

'"Book  of  Commandments,"  p.  92. 
■  "  Doctrine  and  Covenants,"  42 :  8-9. 


8S    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

a  cliange  in  his  revelations.     Here  is  another 
example : 

"  O  remember  these  words  "  O  remember  these  words 
and  keep  my  commandments,  and  keep  my  commandments! 
Remember  this  is  your  gift.  Remember  this  is  your  gift. 
Now  this  is  not  all  for  you  Now  this  is  not  all  thy  gift, 
have  another  gift,  which  is  for  you  have  another  gift 
the  gift  of  working  with  the  which  is  the  gift  of  Aaron; 
rod;  behold  it  has  told  you  behold  it  has  told  you 
things,  behold  there  is  no  many  things;  behold  there 
other  power  save  God  that  is  no  other  power  save 
can  cause  this  rod  of  nature,  the  power  of  God  that  can 
to  work  in  your  hands,  for  it  cause  this  gift  of  Aaron  to 
is  the  work  of  God;  and  be  with  you;  therefore  doubt 
'therefor&whatsoever  you  shall  not,  for  it  is  the  gift  of  God, 
ask  me  to  tell  you  by  that  and  you  shall  hold  it  in  your 
means  that  will  I  grant  unto  hands,  and  do  marvelous 
you,  that  you  shall  know."  ^       works ;    and   no   power   shall 

be  able  to  take  it  away  out  of 
your  hands,  for  it  is  the  work 
of  God.  And,  therefore, 
whatsoever  you  shall  ask  me 
to  tell  you  by  that  means,  that 
will  I  grant  unto  you,  and  you 
shall  have  knowledge  con- 
cerning it."  " 

Here  is  a  direct  admission  of  a  superstitious 
practice  sanctioned  by  a  revelation. 

The  world  has  ever  believed  that  Mormon  ism 
is  a  revival  of  some  of  the  lowest  forms  of 
ignorance  and  superstition  and  here  is  first-hand 
evidence  for  such  a  conviction. 

To  allow  a  revelation  placing  divine  sanction 
upon  the  working  of  a  common  "  Divining  Eod," 
to  remain  in  a  text-book  of  Mormonism  would  be 
to  invite  unfavorable  criticism.  Hence  a  new 
idea   is   given   in   its    stead,    ^^  The    Gift   of 

"  "  Book  of  Commandments,"  chap.  7,  par.  3. 
^°"  Doctrine  and  Covenants,"  (R),  sec.  8,  par.  3. 


"THE  BOOK  OF  COIVBIANDMENTS  "      89 

Aaron/^  takes  tlie  place  of  "  The  Kod  of  Na- 
ture." This  is  only  an  example  of  Mormon  cun- 
ning,  to  leave  tke  matter  in  mystery;  for  who 
can  tell  what  this  "  Gift  of  Aaron  "  really  was 
or  is? 

There  is  direct  evidence  that  this  "  Book  of 
Commandments  "  was  recognized  as  an  author- 
ity, as  a  book  of  reference  by  the  Mormon  peo- 
ple up  to  the  time  of  publication  of  the  "  Doc- 
trine and  Covenants."    Note  the  following  : 

*'It  will  be  seen  by  reference  to  the  'Book  of  Com- 
mandments, '  page  135,  that  the  Lord  has  said  to  the 
Church,"  etc.     .     .    . 

Further  along  in  the  same  connection : 

**But  if  any  man  will  take  the  pains  to  read  the 
one  hundred  and  fifty-third  page  of  the  'Book  of 
Commandments,'  he  will  find  it  there  said,"  etc." 

This  was  contained  in  an  "  Appeal,"  signed  by 
twelve  of  the  leaders  of  the  Church  in  Missouri, 
in  July,  1834.  This  shows  that  one  year  after 
the  press  was  destroyed  the  book  was  in  common 
use  and  "  any  man "  was  invited  to  read  it. 
Any  man  may  go  to  the  New  York  City  Public 
Library  and  read  it  now.  What  was  the  effect 
on  the  Mormons  when  the  new  book  of  revela- 
tions appeared  in  place  of  the  old  one?  David 
Whitmer,  one  of  the  famous  witnesses,  tells  us ; 

"  "  Church  History,"  (R),  i :  510. 


90    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

^'I  want  to  tell  the  brethren  that  when  the  book 
of  'Doctrine  and  Covenants'  was  published,  and  pre- 
sented to  the  Church  assembly  in  Kirtland,  Ohio,  in 
August,  1835,  as  recorded  in  the  old  church  papers, 
a  very  few  of  the  brethren  then  knew  about  most 
of  the  important  changes  that  had  been  put  in  the 
'Book  of  Doctrine  and  Covenants.'  In  time  it  was 
generally  found  out  and  the  result  was  that  some  of 
the  members  left  the  Church  on  account  of  it. 

.  .  .  Many  of  the  brethren  objected  seriously 
to  it,  but  they  did  not  want  to  say  much  for  the  sake 
of  peace,  as  it  was  brother  Joseph  and  the  leaders 
who  did  it."" 

The  changes  were  made  by  a  committee  con- 
sisting of  Joseph  Smith,  Oliver  Cowdery,  Sid- 
ney Rigdon  and  F.  G.  Williams.  Speaking  of 
the  work,  Cowdery  said : 

**  There  are  many  typographical  errors  in  both 
volumes  wherein  the  revelations  were  first  printed 
and  especially  in  the  last,  which  we  shall  endeavor 
carefully  to  correct,  as  well  as  principle,  if  we  dis- 
cover any. ' ' '' 

To  take  the  liberty  to  make  corrections  of 
principles  in  a  document,  as  well  as  common 
typographical  errors,  especially  in  a  document 
purporting  to  be  a  revelation  from  the  Al- 
mighty, would  be  unusual  indeed.  Mr.  Whit- 
mer  tells  us  that  he  objected  most  strenuously 

^^  Whitmer's  Address,  p.  6i. 

^^  Journal  of  History,  Vol.  5,  p.  152. 


"THE  BOOK  OF  COMMANDMENTS^^      91 

to  the  publication  of  the  revelations  in  the  first 
place,  fearing  as  he  did,  the  effect  upon  the 
minds  of  the  people  in  Missouri.  He  said  that 
Smith  told  him : 

**  Any  man  who  objects  to  having  these  revelations 
published  shall  have  his  part  taken  out  of  the  Tree 
of  Life  and  out  of  the  Holy  City.'' " 

One  or  two  quotations  from  the  revelations 
will  show  how  the  inhabitants  of  Missouri  were 
regarded  by  the  Mormons  at  that  time. 

**Ye  shall  assemble  yourselves  together  to  rejoice 
upon  the  land  of  Missouri,  which  is  the  land  of  your 
inheritance,  which  is  now  the  land  of  your  ene- 
mies/'" 

That  would  be  very  strange  talk  to  the  Mis- 
sourians!  They  began  to  realize  as  the  Mor- 
mons came  pouring  in  upon  them  in  great  niun- 
bers,  that  there  were  new  complications  in  their 
social  life  on  account  of  these  people  which  they 
must  face.    Another  revelation  said : 

''For  it  shall  come  to  pass,  that  which  I  spake  by 
the  mouths  of  my  prophets  shall  be  fulfilled;  for  I 
will  consecrate  the  riches  of  the  Gentiles,  unto  my 
people  which  are  of  the  house  of  Israel."" 

Of  course  that  meant  that  in  any  case  the 

"  Whitmer's  Address,  p.  55. 

""Doctrine  and  Covenants,"  (R),  52:9- 

"  "  Book  of  Commandments,"  chap.  44,  par.  32. 


92    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

Mormons  were  to  get  the  riches,  and  as  all  non- 
Mormons  are  Gentiles,  tlie  Missourians  began  to 
wonder  about  the  safety  of  the  inheritance  their 
fathers  had  left  them.  Concerning  the  Mor- 
mons, they  said : 

''They  declare  openly  that  their  God  hath  given 
them  this  County  of  land,  and  that  sooner  or  later 
they  must  and  will  have  the  possession  of  our  lands 
for  an  inheritance. ' ' " 

The  Missourians  met  the  challenge  in  the  old- 
time  Western  way.  They  told  the  Mormons  to 
move  on.  They  applied  force  as  well  as  words, 
and  as  a  part  of  the  fray  the  Mormon  printing 
press  was  destroyed.  All  Mormondom  has  an 
eye  upon  Jackson  County,  Missouri,  even  to  this 
day.  However,  they  have  changed  their  revela- 
tions as  well  as  their  conduct,  so  that  several 
hundreds  live  there  unmolested  at  this  time. 

The  Mormons  charge  that  evil  men  have  taken 
away  the  plain  and  precious  parts  of  God's 
word,''  putting  in  place  thereof  the  doctrines  of 
men,  changing  it  to  suit  the  tastes  of  the  people, 
etc. 

But  is  Mormonism  consistent  with  its  own 
charges?  Can  they  honestly  face  the  facts  with 
regard  to  the  changes  they  have  made  in  the 
revelations,  which  they  boldly  claim  have  been 
given  them  from  Almighty  God? 

""Church  History,"  (R),  1:314- 

"See  preface  of  "Inspired  Translation  of  the  Bible,"  (R). 


"THE   BOOK   OF  DOCTEINE   AND 
COVENANTS '' ' 

THIS  sacred  book  of  Mormonism  con- 
tains the  revelations  given  through  its 
chief  Prophet,  Joseph  Smith.  There 
are  several  editions  of  the  book  published  by  the 
two  principal  branches  of  Mormonism,  the  Utah 
Church  and  the  Eeorganized  Church. 

On  the  title  page  of  the  editions  published  by 
the  Eeorganized  Church  the  following  words 
apiDcar,  "  Carefully  selected  from  the  revela- 
tions of  God."  This  statement  is  interesting,  in 
view  of  the  fact  that  there  were  several  revela- 
tions, of  equal  authority  and  significance,  ex- 
cluded from  the  collection.  In  the  later  editions 
may  be  found  several  revelations  given  through 
Joseph  Smith,  the  eldest  son  of  the  Prophet. 

The  editions  published  by  the  Utah  Church 
include  nearly,  if  not  all,  the  revelations  given 
in  the  period  before  the  division  in  the  Church. 
From  the  examination  of  the  "  Book  of  Com- 
mandments "  as  noted  in  the  previous  chapter, 
it  will  appear  that  the  "  Doctrine  and  Cove- 
nants "  has  this  book  as  its  chief  source.    Nearly 

*  Quotations  are  made  from  Reorganized  Church  edition 
of  1901  and  Utah  Church  edition  of  1880, 

93 


94    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

all  the  revelations  wMch  appear  in  the  "  Doc- 
trine and  Covenants  "  have  been  reedited  and 
changed.  This  is  particularly  true  of  all  reve- 
lations included  in  the  first  edition  of  1835. 
This  is  a  fact  of  vital  importance  to  all  Mor- 
mons as  they  believe  in  verbal  inspiration. 

The  purpose  of  this  chapter  will  be  to  review 
some  statements  concerning  the  manner  of  re- 
ceiving revelations;  to  note  some  of  the  teach- 
ings of  the  book,  and  reproduce  some  of  the  ex- 
cluded revelations. 

How  are  revelations  received?  One  explana- 
tion is  given  in  the  form  of  a  revelation  to  Oliver 
Cowdery  as  follows : 

^'Behold  you  have  not  understood;  you  have  sup- 
posed that  I  would  give  it  unto  you,  when  you  took 
no  thought,  save  it  was  to  ask  me ;  but,  behold  I  say 
unto  you,  that  you  must  study  it  out  in  your  mind ; 
then  you  must  ask  me  if  it  be  right,  and  if  it  is 
right,  I  will  cause  that  your  bosom  shall  burn  within 
you;  therefore  you  shall  feel  that  it  is  right; 
but  if  it  be  not  right,  you  shall  have  no  such 
feelings,  but  you  shall  have  a  stupor  of  thought,  that 
shall  cause  you  to  forget  the  thing  which  is  wrong; 
therefore  you  cannot  write  that  which  is  sacred,  save 
it  be  given  you  from  me.  Now,  if  you  had  known 
this,  you  could  have  translated;  nevertheless  it  is 
not  expedient  that  you  should  translate  now/' ' 

This  statement  seems  to  be  a  description  of 

'"Doctrine  and  Covenants,"  (R),  sec,  9, 


<* DOCTRINE  AND  COVENANTS"         95 

Ms  own  experience  when  religiously  active. 
The  circumstances  under  which  this  revelation 
w^as  given  were  as  follows :  Cowdery  was  writ- 
ing as  Smith  was  pretending  to  translate  from 
the  ancient  records.  Cowdery  was  promised 
that  he  should  be  given  this  gift  to  translate  but 
when  he  made  the  attempt  he  failed,  hence  the 
explanation. 

It  would  appear  that  the  revelations  given  by 
Smith  had  no  higher  authority  than  his  thoughts 
and  feelings ;  things  that  he  had  studied  out  in 
his  mind  and  felt  were  according  to  his  ideas. 
This  is  a  very  insecure  and  unsafe  basis  for 
statements  which  are  accepted  by  the  Mormons 
as  the  literal  words  of  the  Almighty. 

In  the  above  quotation  we  have  light  shed 
upon  his  method  and  manner  of  translation. 
According  to  this  he  translated,  not  by  any  prac- 
tical knowledge  of  ancient  letters,  the  transla- 
tion being  his  thoughts  plus  their  confirmation 
by  his  feelings.  His  wife  describes  his  work  of 
translation:  She  sat  by  his  side  writing,  the 
Golden  Plates  were  lying  on  a  table  covered 
over,  while  Smith  sat  with  his  face  buried  in  a 
hat  looking  at  a  stone.' 

Thus  he  was  able  to  translate  without  even 
looking  at  the  plates.  Mrs.  Smith  says  that 
she  did  not  look  at  the  plates  as  she  did  not  feel 
that  it  was  necessary  to  do  so. 

•"Church  History,"  (R),  3:356-357. 


96    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

It  is  difficult  to  understand  how  one  could 
liave  the  boldness  to  claim  for  himself  such 
power  as  did  Smith.  His  claims  and  his  pro- 
ductions made  on  such  a  basis  would  not  re- 
ceive the  slightest  consideration  save  for  the 
fact  that  many  people  have  been  and  are  being 
deceived  by  them. 

Joseph  Smith,  son  of  the  Prophet  and  for 
several  years  president  of  the  Keorganized 
Church,  gave  his  opinion  as  follows : 

*^  Revelations,  as  I  understand  it,  are  received  in 
different  ways,  sometimes  by  impression,  sometimes 
by  the  person  becoming  conscious  of  it,  and  some- 
times by  audible  voice  heard  by  the  individual  by 
whom  the  revelation  is  received,  and  sometimes  by 
a  direct  messenger,  and  sometimes  by  what  we 
understand  to  be  the  direct  intervention  of  the  spirit. 

A  man  may  be  mistaken  even  though  he  be  the 
President  of  the  Church,  as  to  the  genuineness  or 
authenticity  of  revelations  claimed  to  have  been  re- 
ceived. ' '  * 

The  revelations  given  by  this  man  lack  the 
bold  unqualified  form  of  assertion,  so  outstand- 
ing in  those  of  his  father.  As  thoughts  and  feel- 
ings are  so  diverse  in  individuals,  the  Mormons 
have  a  common  understanding  that  in  order  for 
a  revelation  to  be  received  seriously  it  must  come 
from  the  chief  Prophet,  from  one  mind,  thus 
avoiding  confusion.     If,  as  the  above  statement 

*"  Evidence  in  Temple  I^ot  Suit,"  pp.  75-76. 


"DOCTEIKE  AKD  COVENANTS^'         97 

afArins,  a  revelation  may  be  but  the  mistaken 
idea  of  the  man  giving  it,  what  a  flimsy  founda- 
tion it  is  as  a  basis  for  serious  action  and  con- 
duct. If  one  follows  the  course  of  the  Church 
operating  under  direction  of  Smithes  revela- 
tions he  will  see  how  glaring  were  the  mistaken 
ideas  he  put  forth.  Mormonism  under  the 
leadershij)  of  Brigham  Young  reduced  revela- 
tion to  a  minimum  and  exalted  practical  genius 
to  the  maximum. 

Smith  evidently  did  not  recognize  the  pos- 
sibility of  his  revelations  being  but  his  mistaken 
notions.  By  his  revelation  the  Church  was 
commanded : 

**  Wherefore,  meaning  the  Church,  thou  shalt  give 
heed  unto  all  his  words,  which  he  shall  give  unto 
you,  as  he  reeeiveth  them,  walking  in  all  holiness 
before  me ;  for  his  word  ye  shall  receive,  as  if  from 
mine  own  mouth. '*" 

The  Mormons  believe  the  revelations  are  the 
spoken  utterances  of  the  Almighty.  Believing 
this,  it  was  not  difficult  for  them  to  accept,  even 
the  doctrine  of  plurality  of  wives. 

Concerning  the  teaching  of  the  book  it  may 
be  said  that  it  contains  many  things  that  are 
practical  and  Christian  in  sentiment.  These, 
however,  are  intermixed  with  movements  and 
schemes  the  outcome  of  which  reveal  the  real 

•"Doctrine  and  Covenants,"  (R),  sec.  19,  par.  2. 


98    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

nature  and  deception  with  which  they  are  asso- 
ciated. As  an  example  of  the  same  we  may  note 
a  revelation  given  unto  Martin  Harris : 

**And,  again,  I  command  thee  that  thou  shalt  pray 
vocally  as  well  as  in  thy  heart ;  yea,  before  the  world 
as  well  as  in  secret;  in  public  as  well  as  in  private 
.  .  .  Pray  always  and  I  will  pour  out  my  spirit 
upon  you,  and  great  shall  be  your  blessing;  yea, 
even  more  than  if  you  should  obtain  treasures  of 
earth.''" 

In  the  same  connection  with  this  exhortation 
to  pray,  Mr.  Harris  is  commanded  as  follows : 

*'And  again,  I  command  thee  that  thou  shalt  not 
covet  thy  neighbor's  wife;  nor  seek  thy  neighbor's 
life.  And,  again,  I  command  thee  that  thou  shalt 
not  covet  thine  own  property,  but  impart  it  freely 
to  the  printing  of  the  'Book  of  Mormon'  .  .  . 
Impart  a  portion  of  thy  property,  yea,  even  part  of 
thy  lands,  and  all  save  the  support  of  thy  family. 
Pay  the  debt  thou  hast  contracted  with  the 
printer.'" 

When  the  "Book  of  Mormon"  manuscript 
was  ready  for  the  printer,  Smith  met  a  difdculty. 
He  had  no  money  to  pay  the  bill.  To  overcome 
this  he  gives  a  revelation  to  Mr.  Harris,  who 
owned  a  farm  in  that  vicinity.  Thus  it  may  be 
seen  that  the  exhortation  to  pray  and  engage  in 

^"Doctrine  and  Covenants,"  (R),  sec.  i8.  ^ Ibid. 


"DOOTEINE  AND  COVEKAKTS''         99 

otliep  common  religious  practices  was  in  connec- 
tion with  the  scheme  to  get  the  "  Book  of  Mor- 
mon" printed. 

In  1841,  at  Nauvoo,  Illinois,  Smith  wanted  a 
house  built  for  himself,  so  he  gave  a  revelation, 
to  that  effect: 

*'And  now  I  say  unto  you,  as  pertaining  to  my 
boarding  house,  which  I  have  commanded  you  to 
build,  for  the  boarding  of  strangers,  let  it  be  built 
unto  my  name,  and  let  my  name  be  named  upon  it, 
and  let  my  servant  Joseph  and  his  house  have  place 
therein;  from  generation  to  generation;  for  this 
anointing  have  I  put  upon  his  head,  that  his  blessing 
shall  also  be  put  upon  the  head  of  his  posterity  after 
him;  And  as  I  said  unto  Abraham,  concerning  the 
kindreds  of  the  earth,  even  so  I  say  unto  my  servant 
Joseph,  In  thee,  and  in  thy  seed  shall  all  the  kindred 
of  the  earth  be  blessed/' ' 

To  carry  out  this  project  a  stock  company  was 
formed  to  receive  shares  of  not  less  than  fifty 
and  not  more  than  fifteen  thousand  dollars. 
Several  persons  were  commanded  to  pay  for 
stock : 

**Let  my  servant  William  Marks  pay  stock  into 
that  house,  as  it  seemeth  him  good,  for  himself  and 
his  generation,  from  generation  to  generation. 

Let  my  servant  Henry  G.  Sherwood  pay  stock  into 
that  house,  as  seemeth  him  good,  for  himself  and  his 
seed  after  him,  from  generation  to  generation. 
*"  Doctrine  and  Covenants,"  (R),  107:18, 


100    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

Let  my  servant  William  Law  pay  stock  into  that 
house,  for  himself  and  his  seed  after  him,  from  gen- 
eration to  generation. ' ' " 

The  house  was  erected  but  because  of  the  in- 
iquitous practices  of  the  Mormons  they  were 
driven  out  of  the  State  and  the  promises  to  suc- 
ceeding generations  of  those  who  paid  money 
into  it  failed  miserably,  as  did  all  the  material 
schemes  of  Prophet  Smith. 

Not  only  did  the  revelations  have  to  do  with 
selling  farms  and  building  boarding  houses  but 
with  secret  and  mysterious  practices  as  well. 
In  connection  with  this  same  revelation,  Smith 
commanded  that  a  Temple  should  be  built,  in 
which  strange  things  were  to  take  place,  de- 
scribed as  follows : 

^'And,  again,  verily  I  say  unto  you,  How  shall 
your  washings  be  acceptable  unto  me,  except  ye  per- 
form them  in  a  house  which  you  have  built  to  my 
name  .  .  .  that  your  anointings  and  your 
washings,  and  your  baptisms  for  the  dead,  and  your 
solemn  assemblies  and  your  memorials  for  your  sac- 
rifices, by  the  sons  of  Levi,  and  for  your  oracles  for 
your  most  holy  places.''  ^" 

Notwithstanding  the  claim  had  been  made 
that  the  fullness  of  the  Gospel  had  been  restored, 
here  is  added  a  lot  of  practices  that  seem  en- 

*"  Doctrine  and  Covenants,"  (R),   107:25-27. 
''Ibid.,  107:12. 


"DOCTEINE  AND  COVENANTS"       101 

tirely  foreign  to  it.  The  Churcli  in  Utah  has 
carried  on  a  system  of  secret  practices  in  its 
Temples  and  Endowment  Houses  in  keeping 
with  the  instructions  given."  The  Reorganized 
Church  while  professing  belief  in  this  revelation 
has  nothing  in  its  practices  in  accordance  with 
it.  It  is  believed  that  the  origin  of  these  prac- 
tices grew  out  of  Masonry. 

The  Masonic  Grand  Lodge  of  Illinois  granted 
a  dispensation  for  a  Masonic  Lodge  at  Nauvoo. 
It  was  reported  that  some  1,500  Mormons  were 
initiated  in  about  three  months  and  in  a  very 
irregular  way.  The  records  were  demanded  by 
a  committee  of  investigation  but  the  request 
was  treated  with  contempt.  For  this  the  dis- 
pensation was  revoked  and  the  lodge  declared 
clandestine  and  fellowship  withdrawn.  Smith 
then  denounced  Masonry  as  an  unholy  imitation 
of  the  priesthood  and  proceeded  to  invent  his 
"  endowment  rite "  which  he  called  the  true 
Masonry  known  to  Seth  and  Solomon.  He  be- 
gan to  administer  those  rites  over  his  brick  store 
in  a  room  he  had  prepared  at  I^auvoo." 

In  this  same  revelation  the  commandment 
came  to  practice  the  doctrine  of  Baptism  for  the 
dead.  The  following  is  part  of  the  instructions 
given : 

" "  Doctrines  and  Dogmas  of  Utah  Mormonism  Ex- 
posed," (R),  page  107  ff.,  gives  an  official  description  of 
the  Temple  Endowment  ceremonies. 

"  "  Brigham  Young  and  his  Mormon  Empire,"  p.  36^^. 


102    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

'^  There  is  not  a  place  found  on  earth  that  he  may 
come  and  restore  that  which  was  lost  unto  you,  or, 
which  he  hath  taken  away,  even  the  fullness  of  the 
priesthood;  for  a  baptismal  font  there  is  not  upon 
the  earth ;  that  they,  my  saints,  may  be  baptized  for 
the  dead;  for  this  ordinance  belongeth  to  my  house, 
and  cannot  be  acceptable  to  me,  only  in  the  days  of 
your  poverty,  wherein  ye  are  not  able  to  build  a 
house  unto  me.''" 

The  ordinance  was  administered  in  the  river 
at  i^auvoo  for  a  time  and  has  been  practiced  in 
the  Temples  of  the  Utah  Mormons  for  many 
years. 

The  Reorganized  Church,  while  professing 
belief  in  the  doctrine,  does  not  practice  the 
same.  The  position  assumed  is  that  they  are 
not  to  practice  it  until  the  Lord  commands  it. 

The  Prophet  said : 

''Those  Saints  who  neglect  it,  in  behalf  of  their 
deceased  relatives,  do  it  at  the  peril  of  their  own 
salvation. ' ' " 

This  strange  and  mysterious  doctrine  is  said 
to  have  its  Scriptural  basis  in  the  following : 

"Else  what  shall  they  do  which  are  baptized  for 
the  dead,  if  the  dead  rise  not  at  all  ?  Why  are  they 
then  baptized  for  the  dead?  And  why  stand  we  in 
jeopardy  every  hour. ' ' " 

""Doctrine  and  Covenants,"  (R),  107:10. 
^*  Times  and  Seasons,  Vol.  2,  p.  578. 
"  I  Cor.  15  :  29-30. 


"DOCTRmE  AI^D  COVENANTS  ^»      103 

It  is  doubtless  true  that  the  people  to  whom 
Paul  was  writing  were  practicing  some  such 
doctrine.  He  was  trying  to  convince  them  con- 
cerning the  resurrection  of  the  dead.  He  does 
not  sanction  their  practice  of  baptism  for  the 
dead  but  uses  the  fact  of  their  belief  in  it  to  con- 
vince them  that  it  was  all  useless  if  the  dead 
rise  not.  The  doctrine  has  no  sanction  in  the 
teachings  of  Christ.  K^ote  the  following  ex- 
planation : 

'*  Verse  29,  A  most  difficult  verse,  of  which  the 
interpretations  that  have  been  given  are  endless. 
Some  excellent  expositors  think  it  refers  to  the  prac- 
tice of  Christians  allowing  themselves  to  be  baptized 
as  substitutes  for  converts  who  were  candidates  for 
baptism,  but  died  before  being  baptized  .  .  . 
that  such  a  strange  practice  did  exist,  in  the  early 
Church  there  can  be  no  doubt ;  but  among  whom  1 

Only  among  the  heretical  followers  of  Cerinthus, 
if  we  may  credit  Epiphanius  and  Tertullian.  There 
is  no  ground  to  believe  that  it  was  practiced  in  the 
orthodox  churches,  and  the  writers  now  quoted, 
plainly  regarded  it  as  anti-christian.  * ' " 

The  following  is  also  of  interest  in  this  con- 
nection : 

**Such  a  practice  existed  among  the  Marcionites  in 
the  second  century,  and  still  earlier  amongst  a  sect 
called  the  Cerinthians.    The  idea  evidently  was  that, 

""  International  Illustrated  Commentary,"  Vol.  3,  p.  226. 


104    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OP  MOEMONISM 

whatever  benefit  flowed  from  baptism,  might  be  thus 
vicariously  secured  for  the  deceased  Cliristian. 

St.  Chrysostom  gives  the  following  description  of 
it:  *  After  a  catechumen  was  dead,  they  hid  a  living 
man  under  the  bed  of  the  deceased;  then,  coming 
to  the  bed  of  the  dead  man  they  spoke  to  him,  and 
asked  him  whether  he  would  receive  baptism;  and, 
he  making  no  answer,  the  other  replied  in  his  stead, 
and  so  they  baptised  the  living  for  the  dead.' 

Does  St.  Paul  then  by  what  he  here  says,  sanction 
the  superstitious  practice  ?  Certainly  not.  He  care- 
fully separated  himself  from  the  Corinthians,  to 
whom  he  immediately  addresses  himself,  from  those 
who  adopted  this  custom  .  .  .  Those  who  do 
that,  and  disbelieve  a  resurrection,  refute  themselves. 

This  custom  probably  sprang  up  among  the  Jewish 
converts,  who  had  been  accustomed  to  something 
similar  in  their  faith.  If  a  Jew  died  without  having 
been  purified  from  some  ceremonial  uncleanness, 
some  living  person  had  the  necessary  ablution  per- 
formed on  him,  and  the  dead  were  so  accounted 
clean."" 

In  reviving  this  unchristian  and  heretical 
practice  in  the  form  of  a  revelation  from  God, 
the  Prophet  has  displayed  his  ignorance  of  his- 
tory and  the  facts  adduced  by  proper  methods  of 
interpretation.  The  Utah  Church  has  continued 
the  practice  of  this  doctrine  ever  since  its  intro- 
duction. A  member  of  the  Church  has  the 
privilege  of  thus  redeeming  from  hell  all  his 

"Quoted  from  "The  Story  of  the  Mormons,"  by  Linn, 
p.  119. 


^'DOCTEINE  AND  COVENANTS^'       105 

dead  relatives  who  have  died  without  havins 
received  the  Gospel.  There  are  those  who  regu- 
larly do  what  they  call  "  Temple  work,"  that 
is,  they  are  baptized  over  and  over  again  in  be- 
half of  the  dead.  In  this  way  many  who  are 
accounted  as  worthy  men  and  women  who  are 
now  in  the  sj^irit  world  are  redeemed.  The  Ke- 
organized  Church  takes  the  position  that  the 
whole  Church  was  rejected  of  God  because  the 
Temple  was  not  finished  within  a  certain  time. 
Part  of  the  revelation  says : 

**But  I  command  you,  all  ye  my  saints,  to  build 
a  house  unto  me;  and  I  grant  you  a  sufficient  time 
to  build  a  house  unto  me,  and  during  this  time  your 
baptisms  shall  be  acceptable  unto  me.  But,  behold, 
at  the  end  of  this  appointment,  your  baptisms  for 
your  dead  shall  not  be  acceptable  unto  me;  and  if 
ye  do  not  these  things  at  the  end  of  the  appoint- 
ment, ye  shall  be  rejected  as  a  Church,  with  your 
dead,  saith  the  Lord  your  God.''  ^ 

Against  the  assertion  that  "  The  Temple  was 
never  completed," ''  we  offer  the  following  taken 
from  a  county  paper  published  in  that  vicinity 
at  that  time. 

'^DEDICATION  OF  THE  TEMPLE  OF  GOD 
IN  THE  CITY  OF  NAUVOO" 

*'This  splendid  edifice  is  now  completed,  and 

""Doctrine  and  Covenants,"  (R),  107:  lo-ii. 
" "  Brighamism  Exposed,"  (R),  p.  102. 


106    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOKMONISM 

will  be  dedicated  to  the  Most  High  God  on  Fri- 
day the  1st  day  of  May,  1846. 

.  .  .  tickets  may  be  had  at  the  watch- 
house  near  the  door  of  the  Temple,  and  also  at 
the  office  of  the  Trustees  in  Trust  at  $1  each. 

James  Whitehead,  Clerk. 
Nauvooy  April  10,  1846/"" 

The  position  of  the  Reorganized  Church  re- 
garding the  doctrine  of  Baptism  for  the  dead  is 
like  that  of  the  Utah  Church  in  regard  to  the 
practice  of  polygamy.  That  is :  They  profess  to 
believe  it  but  deny  the  practice  of  it. 

The  outcome  of  the  building  of  the  "  Board- 
ing House"  and  the  Temple,  both  authorized 
by  revelation,  is  interesting.  In  the  Hancock 
Eagle,  of  May  29,  1846,  notice  is  given  by  one 
Abram  Van  Tuyl,  to  the  effect  that  he  has  taken 
over  the  property  of  the  "  Boarding  House  "  and 
fitted  it  up  in  superior  style  as  a  hotel  for 
travellers  and  boarders.  What  about  the  reve- 
lation commanding  men  to  put  stock  in  it  for 
themselves  and  their  seed  after  them  from 
generation  to  generation?  The  project  did  not 
hold  together  for  one  generation. 

In  the  same  secular  paper,  published  in  Han- 
cock County,  Illinois,  in  its  issue  of  June  26, 
1846,  three  advertisements  apiiear  authorized 
by  ofQ-cers  of  the  Mormon  Church.     The  Temple 

^'^  Hancock  Eagle,  April  lo,  1846. 


"DOCTEINE  AND  COVENANTS''        107 

at  Ertland,  Ohio,  the  first  one  built  by  the 
Mormons,  is  offered  for  sale,  also  the  Temple 
at  Nauvoo  and  a  Brewery  situated  in  the  same 
place.  Two  Temples  and  a  Brewery !  A  great 
combination  to  be  offered  for  sale  by  a  Church, 
professing  to  be  the  one  and  only  true  Church 
on  earth ! 

We  will  now  give  attention  to  some  of  the  ex- 
cluded revelations.  One  revelation,  to  which 
the  Mormon  polemic  points  with  boldness  and 
pride,  and  known  as  the  Prophecy  of  the  Re- 
bellion— The  Civil  War — given  December  25, 
1832,  is  found  in  its  order  and  place  in  the 
Utah  edition  of  the  "  Doctrine  and  Covenants. '' 
It  is  omitted  from  most  editions  published  by 
the  Reorganized  Church,  but,  strange  to  note,  it 
is  inserted  on  the  last  page,  succeeding  the  in- 
dex, in  the  edition  of  1901.  If  the  revelation  is 
regarded  as  genuine  and  true,  as  it  generally 
is  by  all  Mormons,  why  omit  it  here  and  insert 
it  there?  A  close  examination  of  the  revela- 
tion in  the  light  of  facts  will  disclose  the  reason 
why  it  has  apparently  been  placed  on  the  doubt- 
ful list. 

The  following  is  a  revelation,  which  is  in- 
serted by  the  Prophet  in  the  history  of  his  life, 
written  by  himself. 

''Verily  thus  saith  the  Lord  unto  my  servant 
Joseph,  concerning  my  servant  Warren   (Parrish) 


108    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

.  .  .  Behold  it  shall  come  to  pass  in  his  day  that 
he  shall  see  great  things  show  forth  themselves  unto 
my  people ;  he  shall  see  much  of  my  ancient  records 
and  shall  know  of  hidden  things,  and  shall  be  en- 
dowed with  knowledge  of  hidden  languages;  and  if 
he  desires  and  shall  seek  it  at  my  hands,  he  shall  be 
privileged  with  writing  much  of  my  word,  as  a  scribe 
unto  me  for  the  benefit  of  my  people ;  therefore  this 
shall  be  his  calling  until  I  shall  order  it  otherwise 
in  my  wisdom ;  and  it  shall  be  said  of  him  in  time  to 
come.  Behold,  Warren,  the  Lord's  Scribe,  for  the 
Lord's  Seer,  whom  he  hath  appointed  in  Israel. 
Therefore,  if  he  shall  keep  my  commandments,  he 
shall  be  lifted  up  at  the  last  day.'"* 

This  was  given  on  the  14th  day  of  November, 
1835.  It  is  excluded  by  the  Keorganized 
Church,  also  the  Utah.  Church  has  omitted  it 
from  their  edition  of  the  "  Doctrine  and  Cove- 
nants." Why  this  omission?  The  revelation 
is  just  as  genuine  as  any  other  Smith  gave.  Time 
works  out  the  false  and  rings  in  the  true,  how- 
ever, and  these  revelations  cannot  stand  the 
test.  Only  a  short  time  after  this  revelation 
was  given,  the  Prophet  denounced  Mr.  Parrish 
and  his  mother  in  terms  so  vile  and  obscene 
that  we  cannot  reproduce  them  here." 

Mr.  Parrish  later  reviewed  his  experiences  in 
connection  with  Mormonism  as  follows : 

'^^  Millennial  Star,  Vol.  15,  p.  424. 
^^  Elders*  Journal,  August,  1838. 


"DOCTEINE  AND  CX)VENANTS^'      109 

*'I  was  once  a  peculiar  favorite  of  the  Prophet 
and  rulers  in  Israel,  called  to  be  his  scribe  by  reve- 
lation, wrote  his  early  history,  kept  his  daily  journal, 
superintended  his  mercantile,  land,  and  banking 
speculations  under  his  directions. 

I  joined  the  church  in  1833  and  withdrew  in  1837 
at  the  head  of  some  forty  others,  and  shortly  after 
was  excommunicated  by  a  Bull  from  his  Holiness; 
and  not  long  after  that,  I  made  Kirtland,  the  Stake 
of  Zion,  so  exceedingly  unpleasant  to  him,  that  he 
got  a  revelation  to  leave  between  two  days  and  has 
not  been  there  since. ' '  ^ 

The  revelation,  in  the  light  of  these  facts, 
would  not  be  very  inspiring,  even  to  a  Mor- 
mon— perhaps  that  is  the  reason  both  branches 
of  Mormonisni  have  chosen  to  keep  it  from 
attention. 

Here  is  part  of  another  revelation  that  is  of 
some  interest  in  view  of  its  assertion : 

^*  Verily  thus  saith  the  Lord  unto  my  servant  Will- 
iam Marks,  and  also  unto  my  servant  N.  K.  Whit- 
ney, let  them  settle  up  their  business  speedily  and 
journey  from  the  land  of  Kirtland,  before  I,  the 
Lord,  send  again  the  snows  upon  the  earth  .  .'  . 
Is  there  not  room  enough  upon  the  mountains  of 
Adam-ondi-Ahman,  and  upon  the  plains  of  Olaha 
Shinehah,  or  the  land  where  Adam  dwelt,  that  you 
should  covet  that  which  is  but  the  drop  and  neglect 
the  more  weighty  matters?  Therefore  come  up 
""Mormonism  Exposed,"  by  Bennett,  p.  47. 


110    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MORMONISM 

hither  unto  the  land  of  my  people,  even  Zion.  ,  .  . 
Let  my  servant  N.  K.  Whitney  be  ashamed  of  the 
Nicholatine  band  and  of  all  their  secret  abomina- 
tions."" 

The  Utah  Church  has  included  this  revelation 
in  their  book/'  but  the  Keorganized  Church  has 
excluded  it.  However,  the  Keorganized  Church 
has  included  one  given  on  the  same  date,  July  8, 
1838,  given  under  the  same  circumstances,  on 
the  subject  of  Tithing.'" 

Note  that  the  above  revelation  asserts  that 
Adam  dwelt  out  on  the  plains  of  Missouri. 
That  is  very  interesting  information  and  it 
would  seem,  if  true,  that  the  Reorganized 
Church  would  herald  forth  the  information 
since  their  Prophet  has  declared  it.  But  they 
have  chosen  to  keep  this  from  the  critical  con- 
sideration of  the  people. 

It  should  also  be  noted  that  the  Prophet  re- 
fers to  a  part  of  the  Mormons  at  Xirtland  as  a 
"Nicholatine  band."  The  Gentile  neighbors 
around  Kirtland  had  suspicions  that  the  Mor- 
mons were  believing  in  polygamy.  These  sus- 
picions were  so  effective  that  the  Church  of- 
ficially declared,  in  1835,  the  following : 

**  Inasmuch  as  this  Church  of  Christ  has  been  re- 

**  Millennial  Star,  Vol.  l6,  p.  183. 
"'"Doctrine  and  Covenants,"  (U),  sec.  117. 
'•"Doctrine  and  Covenants,"  (R),  sec,  xo6. 


"DOCTRINE  AND  COVENANTS^'       111 

proached  with  the  crime  of  fornication,  and  polyg- 
amy; we  declare  that  we  believe  that  one  man 
should  have  one  wife;  and  one  woman  but  one  hus- 
band/'" 

The  revelation  to  Mr.  Marks  and  Whitney 
comes  from  the  Prophet  who  is  out  in  Missouri. 
That  he  should  make  the  charge  in  the  form  of  a 
revelation  is  the  best  of  evidence  that  he  knew 
of  something  in  actual  practice  that  had  aroused 
the  moral  conscience  of  the  Gentiles  about  Kirt- 
land.  Of  course  the  Mormons  in  Utah  believe 
in  polygamy  and  on  that  account  they  later  re- 
moved the  above  declaration  from  their  "  Doc- 
trine and  Covenants."  As  the  Keorganized 
Church  contends  that  polygamy  came  in  under 
Brigham  Young  it  would  by  no  means 
strengthen  their  cause  to  print  a  revelation 
from  their  Prophet  accusing  the  Mormons  at 
Kirtland  of  that  practice. 

We  will  present  one  more  of  the  revelations 
excluded  by  the  Eeorganized  Church.  It  was 
given  at  Salem,  Massachusetts,  August  6,  1836. 
Smith  relates  in  his  autobiography  how  he  and 
his  brother  Hyrum,  Sidney  Rigdon  and  Oliver 
Cowdery  had  journeyed  to  that  place  from  Kirt- 
land, Ohio.  A  Mormon  named  Burgess  had 
told  a  story  of  a  house  in  Salem,  in  the  cellar  of 
which  was  buried  a  large  amount  of  money. 

•^"Doctrine  and  Covenants,"  (R),  sec.  in. 


112    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MORMONISM 

Smith  credited  the  report  and  set  out  to  get  it.** 
The  revelation  reads  : 

**I,  the  Lord  God,  am  not  displeased  with  your 
coming  this  journey,  notwithstanding  your  follies;^ 
I  have  much  treasure  in  this  city  for  you,  for  the 
benefit  of  Zion ;  and  many  people  in  this  city  whom 
I  will  gather  out  in  due  time  for  the  benefit  of  Zion 
through  your  instrumentality ! 

Therefore  it  is  expedient  that  you  should  form 
acquaintance  with  men  in  this  city,  as  you  shall  be 
led,  and  as  it  shall  be  given  you ;  and  it  shall  come  to 
pass  in  due  time,  that  I  will  give  this  city  into  your 
hands,  that  you  may  have  power  over  it,  insomuch 
that  they  shall  not  discover  your  secret  parts;  and 
its  wealth  pertaining  to  gold  and  silver  shall  be 
yours. 

Concern  not  yourselves  about  your  debts  for  I 
will  give  you  power  to  pay  them.  Concern  not  your- 
selves about  Zion  for  I  will  deal  mercifully  with  her. 
Tarry  in  this  place  and  in  the  regions  round  about ; 
and  the  place  where  it  is  my  will  that  you  shall 
tarry,  for  the  main,  shall  be  signallized  unto  you  by 
the  peace  and  power  of  my  spirit,  that  shall  flow 
unto  you. 

This  place  you  may  obtain  by  hire  and  etc.  And 
enquire  diligently  concerning  the  more  ancient  in- 
habitants and  founders  of  this  city;  for  there  are 
more  treasures  than  one  for  you  in  this  city;  there- 
fore be  as  wise  as  serpents  and  yet  without  sin,  and 

'*"  Story  of  the  Mormons,"  by  Linn,  p.  147.  See  also 
Millennial  Star,  Vol.  15,  pp.  281,  822. 


**DOCTEINE  AND  COVENANTS"       113 

I  will  order  all  things  for  your  good  as  fast  as  ye  are 
able  to  receive  them.    Amen.  * '  ^^ 


It  would  seem  that  the  reading  of  such  a  reve- 
lation would  shake  the  faith  of  any  believer  in 
Mormonism.  The  Utah  Church,  though  they 
must  be  ashamed  of  the  thing,  have  included  it 
in  their  book.'"  When  the  Mormon  of  to-day 
reads  it  he  must  find  it  rather  perplexing  as  no 
place  is  mentioned.  A  city  is  repeatedly  re- 
ferred to  but  that  is  carefully  left  out.  Think 
of  these  men,  with  secret  design,  visiting  the  old 
city  of  Salem  looking  for  buried  treasures  under 
direction  of  a  revelation !  Of  course  they  found 
no  treasure  there  though  Smith's  revelation 
gave  them  the  promise  of  the  Almighty  that  they 
would.  The  city  did  not  fall  into  their  hands, 
nor  did  they  obtain  its  gold  and  silver  as  prom- 
ised. 

Perhaps  not  two  per  cent  of  the  Mormons  of 
all  branches  know  anything  about  this  and 
many  other  revelations.  The  false  and  decep- 
tive character  of  the  whole  religious  system  ap- 
pears when  such  facts  are  uncovered. 

Time  and  space  only  permit  the  briefest 
treatment  of  this  important  matter  here.  There 
is  much  more  evidence  of  this  character  that 
might  easily  be  produced. 

^"Millennial  Star,  Vol.  15,  p.  822. 

"*""  Doctrine  and  Covenants,"  (U),  sec.  III. 


114    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OP  MOEMONISM 

Every  Mormon,  regardless  of  the  restraints 
of  the  Mormon  Priesthood,  should  not  rest  con- 
tent until  he  knows  the  facts,  not  from  the 
mouths  of  the  living  oracles  (the  Priesthood) 
but  from  the  old  musty  pages  of  original  Mor- 
mon documents. 

Note. — Recently,  one  of  the  Mormon  leaders  gave  this 
definition  of  a  prophet :  "  A  prophet  is  a  man  who  expects  to 
see  his  ideals  realized." 

The  Mormon  prophets  have,  in  time  past,  been  quite  suc- 
cessful in  enlisting  the  splendid  energies  of  the  Mormon 
people  in  the  attempts  to  put  their  ideals  and  schemes  across. 
Some  day,  let  us  hope,  the  Mormon  people  will  get  their  eyes 
opened  to  the  false  leadership  of  Mormonism,  and  will 
devote  their  efforts  to  the  Kingdom  of  God  and  the  ideals  of 
Jesus,  and  to  His  ideals  alone. 


VI 

"THE  BOOK  OF  ABRAHAM" 

THIS  sacred  book  of  Mormonism  has 
been  freely  accepted  by  the  Utah 
Church  as  a  book  of  God.  The  Re- 
organized Church,  while  being  compelled  to 
recognize  it  as  a  genuine  production  of  the 
Prophet  they  adore,  neither  accept  nor  con- 
demn it.  The  historical  narrative  concerning 
the  origin  of  the  book  is  as  follows : 

**0n  the  3rd  day  of  July  (1835)  Michael  H. 
Chandler  came  to  Kirtland  to  exhibit  some  Egyptian 
Mummies. 

There  were  four  human  figures,  together  with 
some  two  or  more  rolls  of  papyrus  covered  with 
hieroglyphic  figures  and  devices.  As  Mr.  Chandler 
had  been  told  I  could  translate  them,  he  brought  me 
some  of  the  characters,  and  I  gave  him  the  interpre- 
tation, and  like  a  gentleman,  he  gave  me  the  fol- 
lowing certificate: — 

'Kirtland,  July  6, 1835, 

This  is  to  make  known  to  all  who  may  be  de- 
sirous,  concerning  the  knowledge   of  Mr.   Joseph 
Smith,  Jr.,  in  deciphering  the  ancient  hieroglyphic 
115 


116    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

characters  in  my  possession,  which  I 'have,  in  many 
eminent  cities,  showed  to  the  most  learned ;  and  from 
the  information  that  I  could  ever  learn,  or  meet 
with,  I  find  that  of  Mr.  Joseph  Smith,  Jr.,  to  cor- 
respond in  the  most  minute  matters. 

Michael  H.  Chandler, 
Travelling  with  and  Proprietor  of  Egyptian 
Mummies.' 

.  .  .  Soon  after  this  some  of  the  saints  at  Kirt- 
land  purchased  the  mummies  and  papyrus  (a  de- 
scription of  which  will  appear  hereafter)  and  I,  with 
W.  W.  Phelps  and  0.  Cowdery  as  scribes,  com- 
menced the  translation  of  some  of  the  characters  or 
hieroglyphics,  and  much  to  our  joy  found  that  one 
of  the  rolls  contained  the  writings  of  Abraham,  an- 
other the  writings  of  Joseph  of  Egypt,  etc.,  a  more 
full  account  of  which  will  appear  in  their  place,  as 
I  proceed  to  examine  or  unfold  them. 

Truly  we  can  say,  the  Lord  is  beginning  to  re- 
veal the  abundance  of  peace  and  truth. ' '  * 

The  complete  translation  of  the  book  to- 
gether with  the  fac-similes  was  published  in  the 
official  Mormon  Paper  by  the  Prophet  himself, 
in  the  issues  of  March  1st  and  15th  and  May 
16,  1842.  This  paper  is  called  The  Times  and 
Seasons.  As  we  have  observed,  the  Utah 
Church  regards  this  book  as  a  work  of  inspira- 
tion. Indeed,  it  would  be  inconsistent  for  them 
to  do  otherwise.  It  is  likewise  inconsistent  for 
*"  Church  History,"  (R),  1:569. 


**  THE  BOOK  OF  ABE  AH  AM"  117 

any  believer  in  Smith's  supernatural  powers  to 
reject  this  book  which  is  his  product  as  surely 
as  is  the  "  Book  of  Mormon."  In  the  history 
published  by  the  Reorganized  Church  the  whole 
matter  is  passed  over  with  this  statement : 

**The  Church  has  never  to  our  knowledge  taken 
any  action  on  this  work,  either  to  endorse  or  con- 
demn; so  it  cannot  be  said  to  be  a  Church  publica- 
tion; nor  can  the  Church  be  held  to  answer  for  the 
correctness  of  its  teachings.  Joseph  Smith,  as  trans- 
lator is  committed  of  course  to  the  correctness  of  the 
translation,  but  not  necessarily  to  the  endorsement 
of  its  historical  or  doctrinal  contents."  '^ 

This  is  a  clever  statement,  evidently  made  for 
the  purpose  of  diverting  the  attention  of  the 
reader  from  a  deep  consideration  of  the  matter. 
What  matters  whether  the  Church  takes  a  vote 
on  the  thing  or  not?  If  the  Church  had  taken 
a  vote  on  the  "  Book  of  Mormon  "  would  that 
have  determined  its  truth  or  falsity?  The  Re- 
organized Church  would  be  slow  to  endorse  this 
book  with  its  polytheistic  teachings,  and  yet,  to 
condemn  it  would  be  a  serious  thing  to  do,  since 
that  would  cast  an  unfavorable  reflection  upon 
the  Prophet.  It  should  be  remembered  that 
Smith  claimed  to  be  a  divinely  appointed  Trans- 
lator, as  well  as  a  Prophet.  In  his  translation 
of  the  Golden  Plates  from  whence  he  claimed 

'"'Church  History,"  (R),  2:569. 


118    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOBMONISM 

to  have  made  the  "  Book  of  Mormon,"  no  one 
could  say  whether  the  translation  was  correct  or 
not.  No  scientific  examination  was  ever  made 
of  the  inscription  and  comx^arison  made  with 
the  translation.  In  the  case  of  the  "  Book  of 
Abraham,"  the  original  inscription  and  the 
translation  appear  together.  This  gives  the 
linguist  an  opportunity  to  determine  the  cor- 
rectness of  the  translation,  as  well  as  the  ability 
of  the  translator.  That  Smith  claimed  the 
translation  to  be  a  revelation  from  God  is  evi- 
dent from  the  statement  he  makes  in  connection 
with  the  discovery  of  the  mummies  and  papyrus, 
"  Truly  the  Lord  is  beginning  to  reveal  the 
abundance  of  peace  and  truth."  In  his  descrip- 
tion of  some  of  the  characters  it  clearly  appears 
that  he  regarded  the  matter  as  direct  revelation. 
To  quote : 

''Figure  8.  Contains  writing  that  cannot  be  re- 
vealed unto  the  world;  but  is  to  be  had  in  the  Holy 
Temple  of  God. 

Figure  9.  Ought  not  to  be  revealed  at  the  present 
time. 

Figure  10.    Also. 

Figure  11.  Also, — if  the  world  can  find  out  these 
numbers,  So  let  it  be.    Amen. 

Figures  12-21  will  be  given  in  the  own  due  time 
of  the  Lord.  The  above  translation  is  given  as  far 
as  we  have  any  right  to  give,  at  the  present  time. '  * 

It  will  be  noted  that  the  translation  was 


"THE  BOOK  OF  ABEAHAM"  119 

bound  up  with  the  ceremonies  of  the  Temple 
that  was  being  erected  at  Nauvoo ;  that  parts  of 
the  translation  were  deferred  to  be  given  by 
revelation  at  a  later  time.  Accepting  the  oj)- 
portunity  to  give  the  inspirational  powers  of 
Smith,  as  a  translator,  a  scientific  test,  the  Kt. 
Kev.  F.  S.  Spalding,  Episcopal  Bishop  of  Utah, 
issued  a  pamphlet  entitled,  ^Moseph  Smith,  Jr., 
as  a  Translator,'^  November  1,  1912. 

The  Bishop  presented  to  several  scholars  the 
copies  of  the  characters  together  with  Smith's 
translations.  We  quote  from  this  pamphlet 
some  of  the  opinions  given  by  Egyptologists  con- 
sulted. The  following  is  from  Dr.  A.  H.  Sayce 
of  Oxford : 

*'It  is  difficult  to  deal  seriously  with  Joseph 
Smith's  impudent  fraud.  His  fae-simile  from  the 
Book  of  Abraham  No.  2,  is  an  ordinary  hypoeepha- 
lus,  but  like  the  hieroglyphics  have  been  copied  so 
ignorantly  that  hardly  one  of  them  is  correct.  I 
need  scarce  say  that  Kolob,  etc.,  are  unknown  to  the 
Egyptian  language.  No.  3  is  a  representation  of  the 
goddess  Maat  leading  Pharaoh  before  Osiris  behind 
whom  stands  the  goddess  Isis.  Smith  has  turned  the 
goddess  into  a  king  and  Osiris  into  Abraham. ' ' 

Dr.  W.  M.  Flinders  Petrie  of  London  Uni- 
versity says : 

*'To  any  one  with  knowledge  of  the  large  class  of 
funeral  documents,  to  which  these  belong,  the  at- 


120    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

tempts  to  guess  a  meaning  for  them,  in  the  professed 
explanations,  are  too  absurd  to  be  noticed. 

It  may  be  safely  said  that  there  is  not  one  single 
word  that  is  true  in  these  explanations. 

If  any  one  wishes  to  verify  the  matter,  they  have 
only  to  ask  any  of  the  curators  of  Egyptian  Museums 
.  .  .  none  but  the  ignorant  could  possibly  be  im- 
posed upon  by  such  ludicrous  blunders. ' ' 

Dr.  J.  H.  Breasted,  University  of  Chicago, 
says: 

*'In  1822  Champollion  published  the  first  success- 
ful steps  in  the  decipherment  of  Egyptian  Hiero- 
glyphics. It  was  only  very  gradually  after  this  that 
he  gained  the  ability  to  read  the  simpler  and  clearer 
sentences  in  the  hieroglyphic  records. 

Little  of  the  language,  comparatively  speaking, 
was  understood  when  he  died  in  1832.  He  left  in 
manuscript  an  elementary  grammar,  which  was  pub- 
lished by  the  government  beginning  in  1836  and 
reaching  completion  in  1841. 

It  would  have  been  impossible  for  any  American 
scholar  to  have  known  enough  about  Egyptian  In- 
scriptions to  read  them  before  the  publication  of 
Champollion  ^s  Grammar     .     .     . 

It  will  be  seen  then,  that  if  Joseph  Smith  could 
read  ancient  Egyptian  writing,  his  ability  to  do  so 
had  no  connection  with  the  decipherment  of  hiero- 
glyphics by  European  scholars.  .  .  .  The  three 
fac-similes  in  question  represent  equipment  which 
will  be  and  has  been  found  in  unnumbered  thou- 
sands of  Egyptian  graves. 


"THE  BOOK  OF  ABRAHAM »'  121 

Joseph  Smith's  interpretation  of  them  as  a  part 
of  a  unique  revelation  through  Abraham  therefore, 
very  clearly  demonstrates  that  he  was  wholly  un- 
acquainted with  the  significance  of  these  documents 
and  absolutely  ignorant  of  the  simplest  facts  of 
Egyptian  writing  and  civilization. 

Not  to  repeat  it  too  often,  the  point  I  wish  to  make 
is,  that  Joseph  Smith  represents  as  portions  of  a 
unique  revelation  through  Abraham,  things  which 
were  common-places  and  to  be  found  by  many  thou- 
sands in  the  every  day  life  of  the  Egyptians. 

We  orientalists  could  publish  scores  of  these  *  Fac- 
similes taken  from  the  Book  of  Abraham  '  taken 
from  other  sources. ' ' 

Dr.  Arthur  Mace,  Metropolitan  Museum  of 
Art,  New  York,  says : 

**  Joseph  Smithes  interpretation  of  these  cuts  is  a 
farrago  of  nonsense  from  beginning  to  end.  Egyp- 
tian characters  can  now  be  read  almost  as  easily  as 
Greek,  and  five  minutes  study  in  an  Egyptian  Gal- 
lery of  any  Museum  should  be  enough  to  convince 
any  educated  man  of  the  clumsiness  of  the  impos- 
ture.''" 

Bishop  Spalding  says  of  his  work : 

**My  object  in  writing  the  pamphlet  was  not  to 

inform  the  world  that  Joseph  Smith's  translations 

were  inaccurate,  and  that  therefore  his  claim  to  be 

a  Prophet  of  God  was  invalid,  but  try  to  convince 

^  These  quotations  from  the  pamphlet  referred  to. 


122    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

the  Mormons  themselves  of  those  facts.    The  rest  of 
the  world  has  long  ago  made  up  its  mind. 

Writing  and  action,  which  can  be  described  as 
attack,  no  more  affects  the  Mormon  in  his  belief  than 
they  affected  the  early  Christians  in  theirs.  The 
value  of  the  pamphlet  and  the  literature  which  may 
grow  out  of  it  is  to  be  measured  entirely  by  its  effect 
upon  the  Latter  Day  Saints. ' '  * 

Upon  the  publication  of  the  pamphlet  it  was 
soon  discovered  that  the  Bishop  had  struck  a 
vital  blow.  The  blow  had  been  wisely  aimed  at 
the  foundation  of  Mormon  claims  and  it  suc- 
ceeded in  arousing  them  to  defense.  The  repre- 
sentatives of  the  Eeorganized  Church  took 
refuge  behind  the  false  premise  that  they  had 
not  endorsed  the  "  Book  of  Abraham."  The 
Utah  Church  sought  to  throw  discredit  upon  the 
scholars,  charging  them  with  "  unfair  reason- 
ing "  and  they  tried  to  point  out  "  discrepancies 
in  the  testimony  of  the  scholars  '^  and  asserted 
that  "  the  scholars  disagree."  Joseph  F.  Smith, 
then  President  of  the  Utah  Church,  concludes 
the  defense  by  saying : 

*^We  believe  it  clearly  shown  that  this  argument, 
in  the  first  place  is  misleading  if  not  fallacious ;  that 
the  savants  consulted  may  have  been  prejudiced  be- 
fore hand,  and  made  no  real  scientific  investigation 
of  the  translations  of  the  Prophet;  that  they  differ 
*  Christian  Herald,  January  29,  1913. 


'*THE  BOOK  OF  ABRAHAM'^  123 

from  each  other  in  their  conclusions;  that  upon  in- 
vestigation the  translation  o£  the  Prophet  agrees 
with,  rather  than  differs  from,  the  most  modern  and 
reliable  information  that  can  be  obtained;  and  that 
therefore  Joseph  Smith  was  inspired  in  the  trans- 
lation of  the  fac-similes  from  the  *Book  of  Abra- 
ham.'''" 

Most  of  the  Mormons  declare  that  they  have 
a  testimony  "  that  Joseph  Smith  was  a  Prophet 
of  God/'  therefore  they  will  not  readily  accept 
any  argument  tending  to  overthrow  the  claims 
he  made  for  himself.  They  generally  look  upon 
any  effort  to  exi)ose  his  false  positions  as 
malicious  persecution.  Few  of  them  will  con- 
sider an  adverse  criticism  of  their  cherished 
belief. 

No  attempt  will  be  made  here  to  reproduce 
and  analyze  the  contents  of  this  book.  It  is  not 
worth  while  to  do  so.  The  suggestion  that 
those  who  are  interested  visit  some  museum  con- 
taining exhibits  from  Egypt  and  make  a  com- 
parison between  the  fac-similes  and  the  numer- 
ous duplicates '  is  timely,  and  those  who  do  so 
will  surely  be  convinced  that  the  Prophet  has 
given  the  world  a  sure  evidence  of  his  ignorance 
and  also  an  example  of  his  bold  pretentions. 

One  of  the  immediate  effects  following  the 

'Improvement  Era,  (U),  Vol.  i6,  No.  4,  p.  379. 
' "  Story  of  the  Mormons,"  by  Linn,  p.   140^/^.     See  ex- 
hibit in  the  Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art,  New  York  City, 


124    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

publication  of  the  translation  of  this  book  is  to 
be  noted  in  the  following  charge  made  against 
Smith  by  some  of  his  devotees : 

**  Inasmuch  as  they  (Joseph  and  Hyrum  Smith) 
have  introduced  false  and  damnable  doctrines  into 
the  Church,  such  as  plurality  of  Gods,  above  the 
God  of  this  universe,  and  his  liability  to  fall  with 
all  his  creations ;  the  plurality  of  wives  for  time  and 
eternity  ...  we  therefore  are  constrained  to 
denounce  them  as  apostates  from  the  pure  and  holy 
doctrines  of  Jesus  Christ. '*' 

The  Utah  Church  has  followed  the  leading  of 
Smith  in  the  matter  of  belief  in  many  Gods,'  as 
well  as  many  wives.  The  above  charge  made  by 
the  followers  of  Smith  has  been  confirmed. 

Is  it  not  very  inconsistent  for  the  Reorganized 
Church  to  profess  belief  in  Smith  as  a  divinely 
appointed  Translator,  then  to  fail  to  approve 
his  translation  and  denounce  as  apostates  those 
who  have  done  so? 

An  impartial  investigation  of  the  "  Book  of 
Abraham  "  ought  to  convince  any  fair-minded, 
or  unprejudiced  person  of  Christian  belief,  of 
the  unworthiness  of  Joseph  Smith  as  a  religious 
leader  and  of  the  fraudulent  character  of  Mor- 
monism. 

''  Nauvoo  Expositor,  Resolution  2. 

*  "  Brighamism  Exposed,"  (R),  pp.  40-50. 


vn 

THE  HOLY  SCRIPTUEES 

THIS  is  another  sacred  book  of  the  Mor- 
mons, more  commonly  known  as  "  The 
Inspired  Translation."  Smith's  rea- 
son for  the  giving  of  a  new  translation  of  the 
Bible  was  in  the  form  of  a  charge,  as  follows : 

*^For  behold,  they  have  taken  away  from  the  gos- 
pel of  the  Lamb,  many  parts  which  are  plain  and 
most  precious ;  and  also  many  covenants  of  the  Lord 
have  been  taken  away  .  .  .  That  they  might 
blind  the  eyes  and  harden  the  hearts  of  the  children 
of  men/'' 

Mr.  Sidney  Rigdon  was  actively  associated 
with  Smith  in  the  production  of  this  work.  A 
revelation  given  to  him  by  Smith  said : 

**And  a  commandment  I  give  unto  thee,  that  thou 
shalt  write  for  him;  and  the  scriptures  shall  be 
given,  even  as  they  are  in  mine  own  bosom,  to  the 
salvation  of  mine  own  elect. ' '  ^ 

The  object  as  thus  defined  by  Smith,  in  giving 

^  See  preface  to  "The  Holy  Scriptures,"  (R). 
^"Poctrine  and  Covenants,"  (U),  35:20, 

125 


^ 


126    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

a  new  translation  of  the  Bible,  was  to  restore 
the  precious  parts  which  he  alleged  were  taken 
away  and  give  the  Scripture  in  its  pure  form. 

The  history  of  the  work  is  as  follows :  Smith 
began  the  work  in  June,  1830,  and  finished  the 
same,  with  the  assistance  of  Mr.  Eigdon,  in 
July,  1833.'  Smith  had  fully  intended  to  pub- 
lish this  book  but  for  various  reasons  it  was  not 
printed  until  several  years  after  his  death. 

At  his  death  the  manuscript  was  in  the  hands 
of  his  wife,  Emma  Smith,  with  whom  it  re- 
mained until  18G6,  when  it  was  delivered  to  a 
committee  of  the  General  Conference  of  the  Ke- 
organized  Church,  and  published,  the  first  edi- 
tion appearing  in  1867. 

It  is  a  publication  of  the  Eeorganized  Church 
/  and  has  never  been  recognized  as  authoritative 
by  the  Utah  Church. 

As  to  the  method  used  by  Smith  in  producing 
this  work,  the  claim  is  made  "  that  it  was  done 
by  direct  revelation  from  God."'  Smith's 
method  of  translation,  we  have  noted  in  a  previ- 
ous chapter,  as  indicated  in  instructions  which 
he  gave  to  Mr.  Oliver  Cowdery,  who  had  tried 
the  art  of  translating  while  acting  as  a  scribe  for 
him.     It  reads  in  part : 

*'But,  behold  I  say  unto  you  that  you  must  study 

""Church  History,"  (R),  1:303. 

•§ee  preface  of  "The  Holy  Scriptures,"  (R)", 


THE  HOLY  SCEIPTURES  127 

it  out  in  your  mind ;  then  yon  must  ask  me  if  it  be 
right,  and  if  it  is  right  I  will  cause  that  your  bosom 
shall  burn  within  you ;  therefore  you  shall  feel  that 
it  is  right/''* 


y 


Using  this  method,  Smith  took  the  authorized 
version  of  the  Bible  and  where  he  desired  to 
make  changes  he  exercised  freedom  in  doing  so. 

While  it  is  called  the  "  Inspired  Transla- 
tion "  ^  it  is  in  no  sense  a  translation.  Smith  y^ 
did  not  possess  sufficient  knowledge  of  the  orig- 
inal languages  to  enable  him  to  translate.  He 
did  not  possess  the  documents  from  which  to 
make  a  translation.  The  word  "translation" 
used  in  this  connection  is  a  misnomer. 

The  changes  made  by  Smith  in  his  transla- 
tion are  mostly  verbal  and  inconsequential.  He 
has  exercised  the  liberty  of  adding  to  the  text 
material  which  would  increase  his  authority 
and  support  the  pretensions  of  the  new  Bible. 

He  had  little  or  no  knowledge  of  the  history 
of  the  Old  and  the  New  Testament  documents. 
He  does  not  say,  specifically,  who  it  was  that 
was  guilty  of  having  taken  away  "  the  precious 
parts  "  from  the  Bible.  Nor  does  it  appear 
whose  eyes  were  blinded  and  whose  hearts  were 
hardened  by  the  loss  of  these  things.  However, 
they  are  all  restored  in  this  translation,  so  we 
may  see  what  they  were. 

""Doctrine  and  Covenants,"  (U),  9:8« 
*Ibid,f  p,  440. 


128    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

An  examination  of  the  book  will  be  ratlier 
disappointing  to  any  one  looking  for  these 
treasured  things.  Those  supplied  by  this  new 
translator  are  very  few  and  of  little  conse- 
quence. Those  he  has  inserted  relate  to  himself 
and  the  new  religion  he  was  launching  and  re- 
flect some  of  his  peculiar  beliefs. 

We  will  note  a  few  outstanding  interpolations 
as  found  in  this  new  Bible.  In  Genesis  6 :  53 
the  Lord  said  to  Adam : 

''If  thou  wilt  return  unto  me  and  hearken  unto 
my  voice  and  believe  and  repent  of  all  thy  trans- 
gressions, and  be  baptized,  even  in  water,  in  the 
name  of  mine  Only  Begotten  Son,  who  is  full  of 
grace  and  truth,  which  is  Jesus  Christ,  the  only  name 
which  shall  be  given  under  heaven,  whereby  salva- 
tion shall  come  to  the  children  of  men :  and  ye  shall 
receive  the  gift  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  asking  all  things 
in  His  name,  and  whatsoever  ye  shall  ask  it  shall  be 
given  you." 

Here  we  have,  strange  to  note,  the  language 
of  the  New  Testament  interwoven  in  the  first 
book  of  the  Bible.' 

In  verse  67  of  the  same  chapter  may  be  found 
the  following : 

**And  it  came  to  pass,  when  the  Lord  had  spoken 
with  Adam  our  father,  that  Adam  cried  unto  the 
Lord,  and  he  was  caught  away  by  the  spirit  of  the 
'  John  1 :  14 ;  Acts  4 :  12,  2 :  39. 


THE  HOLT  SCEIPTUEES  129 

Lord,  and  was  carried  down  into  the  water,  and  was 
laid  under  the  water,  and  was  brought  forth  out  of 
the  water ;  and  thus  he  was  baptized. ' ' 

The  verses  in  connection  with,  this  narrative 
indicate  that  the  New  Testament  record  of  the 
Gospel  was  but  a  reproduction  of  spiritual  ex- 
periences beginning  with  Adam.  He  was  de- 
clared to  be  "  born  of  the  spirit "  and  "  baptized 
with  fire  and  with  the  Holy  Ghost."  Thus,  in- 
stead of  the  "  beginning  of  the  Gospel  of  Jesus 
Christ "  being  coincident  with  the  coming  of 
John  the  Baptist,  just  as  Smith's  translation 
elsewhere  affirms  that  it  was,^  he  locates  it  as 
having  begun  with  Adam.  But  the  authority 
for  so  doing  has  no  higher  source  than  the 
thoughts  of  his  mind  and  the  burning  in  his 
"  bosom  "  that  made  him  "  feel  that  it  is  right." 

In  the  fifth  chapter  of  Genesis  we  find  another 
interesting  interpolation.  Smith  has  expanded 
the  narrative  concerning  the  killing  of  Abel  by 
Cain,  as  found  in  the  fourth  chapter  of  Genesis 
in  the  authorized  version.  The  murder  of  Abel 
is  the  outcome  of  the  plans  of  a  secret  order  of 
which  Cain  is  the  "  Master  Mahan."    We  read : 

**and  it  shall  be  said  in  time  to  come  that  these 

abominations  were  had  from  Cain    .     .     .     Swear 

unto  me  by  thy  throat,  and  if  thou  tell  it  thou  shalt 

die;  and  swear  thy  brethren  by  their  heads,  and  by 

"Mark  1:1-3,  Inspired  Translation,  (R). 


130    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

the  living  God,  that  they  tell  it  not;  for  if  they  tell 
it  they  shall  surely  die  .  .  .  And  Cain  saith, 
Truly  I  am  Mahan,  the  Master  of  this  great  secret, 
that  I  may  murder  and  get  gain.  Wherefore  Cain 
was  called  Master  Mahan;  and  he  gloried  in  his 
wickedness. ' '  ^ 

The  "Book  of  Mormon"  contains  many 
references  to  "  secret  combinations,"  etc.,'"  and 
denunciations  of  them  as  evil.  The  inspiration 
that  suggested  these  things  to  Smith's  mind, 
probably,  found  its  source  in  the  agitations 
against  secret  orders  in  his  day  and  time. 

In  the  fiftieth  chapter  of  Genesis,  Smith  has 
made  a  very  significant  addition  in  the  twelve 
verses  he  has  appended  to  it. 

One  of  the  "  precious  things  "  here  restored  is 
a  prophecy  by  Joseph,  who  was  sold  into  Egypt, 
concerning  the  coming  of  "A  choice  seer,"  who 
is  none  other  than  Joseph  Smith. 

We  read : 

* '  Thus  saith  the  Lord  God  of  my  fathers  unto  me, 
A  choice  seer  will  I  raise  up  out  of  the  fruit  of  thy 
loins,  and  he  shall  be  esteemed  highly  among  the 
fruit  of  thy  loins,  his  brethren ;  and  unto  him  will  I 
give  commandments  that  he  shall  do  a  work  for  the 
fruit  of  thy  loins     .     .     . 

And  that  seer  will  I  bless  and  they  that  seek  to 

"  Gen.  5  :  10  ff. 

"See  reference  index  to  "Book  of  Mormon,"  (R). 


THE  HOLY  SCRIPTUEES  131 

destroy  him  shall  be  confounded;  for  this  promise 
I  give  unto  you ;  for  I  will  remember  you  from  gen- 
eration to  generation;  and  his  name  shall  be  called 
Joseph,  and  it  shall  be  after  the  name  of  his  father ; 
and  he  shall  be  like  unto  you;  for  the  thing  which 
the  Lord  shall  bring  forth  by  his  hand  shall  bring  my 
people  unto  salvation. ' ' " 

This  is  almost  more  than  any  Mormon  wants 
to  accept.  That  God  had  Joseph  Smith  in  view 
so  early  in  the  developing  life  of  the  world  is 
just  what  Joseph  Smith  wanted  people  to  be- 
lieve. This  claim  is  so  astounding  that  it  is 
almost  suf8.cient  to  make  any  Mormon  stagger 
with  unbelief.  The  source  of  inspiration  that 
suggested  it  would  seem  to  be  self -centered. 

As  one  proceeds  with  an  examination  of  this 
work,  it  would  seem  that  Smith  and  Eigdon 
must  have  grown  weary  of  their  task.  They 
have  inserted  whole  books  of  the  authorized 
version  into  their  inspired  translation  with 
little  or  no  change. 

The  twenty-ninth  chapter  of  Isaiah  bears  evi- 
dence of  a  remarkable  interpolation.  Smith  has 
added  eight  verses,  one  of  them  containing  more 
than  100  words.  In  the  reference  in  Genesis 
Smith  supplied  a  prophecy  concerning  himself, 
here  he  supplies  one  concerning  his  famous 
"  three  witnesses,^'  upon  whom  he  and  all  Mor- 
jnons  have  so  securely  relied  for  proof  of  the 

"Gen,  50:27,  33,  Inspired  Translation,  (R). 


132    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

genuine  character  of  the  "Book  of  Mormon." 
We  read : 

**the  book  shall  be  hid  from  the  eyes  of  the  world, 
that  the  eyes  of  none  shall  behold  it,  save  it  be  that 
three  witnesses  shall  behold  it  by  the  power  of 
God,  besides  him  to  whom  the  book  shall  be  deliv- 
ered  '.    .    . 

Wherefore,  when  thou  hast  read  the  words  which 
I  have  commanded  thee,  and  obtained  the  witnesses 
which  I  have  promised  thee,  then  thou  shalt  seal  up 
the  book  again,  and  hide  it  up  unto  me. ' ' " 

According  to  this,  Isaiah  prophesied  of 
Smith's  "three  witnesses,"  Messrs.  Harris, 
Cowdery,  and  Whitnier.  All  this  seems  to  be 
in  line  with  Smith's  claim,  that  the  twenty- 
ninth  chapter  of  Isaiah  is,  in  reality,  a  prophetic 
declaration  of  the  coming  forth  of  the  "  Book  of 
Mormon."  This  the  Mormons  verily  believe,  but 
these  additions  which  Smith  has  made  are 
enough  to  arouse  grave  suspicion  of  the  fraud  he 
was  designing.  A  reinterpretation  of  the  chap- 
ter might  convince  the  followers  of  Smith  that 
Isaiah  had  no  such  thing  in  mind."* 

A  test  of  Smith's  inspirational  powers  may 
be  seen  in  the  following  illustration.  In  the 
"Book  of  Mormon"  he  quotes  the  Lord's 
Prayer,  part  of  which  is  here  given  as  follows : 

"Isa.  29: 17,  24,  Inspired  Translation. 
"See  note.    Analysis  of  Isa.  28-30. 


THE  HOLY  SCEIPTURES  133 

"And  lead  us  not  into  temptation,  but  deliver  us 
from  evil.'*" 

This  is  the  exact  reproduction  of  the  words  as 
found  in  the  authorized  version/'  TJie  "  Book 
of  Mormon  "  claims  to  be  inspired,  but  the  ren- 
dering in  Smith's  Inspired  Translation  has 
changed  these  words  as  follows : 

**And  suffer  us  not  to  be  led  into  temptation,  but 
deliver  us  from  evil."  " 

Is  it  not,  at  least,  very  strange  that  the  spirit 
of  God  would  inspire  a  man  to  quote  the  same 
thing  differently  in  two  inspired  books?  Mod- 
ern scholarship  has  not  paid  the  slightest  at- 
tention to  this  book. 


Note. — An  analysis  of  Isaiah  chapters  28-30: 

The  29th  Chapter  is  so  devoutly  relied  upon  by  the  Mor- 
mons as  a  proof  text  for  evidence  of  the  "  Book  of  Mor- 
mon," that  we  here  suggest  a  review  of  the  preceding  and 
succeeding  chapters.  Isaiah  is  standing  in  the  midst  of  a  tur- 
bulent national  situation.  Assyria  and  Egypt  are  troubling 
God's  people.  In  these  chapters  the  prophet  gives  a  series 
of  oracles  reflecting  the  historical  circumstances  of  his  day. 

28 : 1-6 — Predict  the  fall  of  Samaria.  7-22  verses — A 
controversy  with  the  dissolute  politicians  of  Jerusalem — 
see  verse  14.  23-29  verses— General  words  of  counsel  and 
wisdom. 

29 : 1-8 — The  abasement  and  subsequent  deliverance  of 
Jerusalem.  9-14  verses — The  spiritual  stupidity  of  the 
people  of  Jerusalem.  15-24  verses — Exposure  of  a  con- 
spiracy with  the  court  of  Egypt  changing  to  a  prediction  of 
a  future  deliverance. 

30 : 1-17 — A  return  to  an  alliance  with  the  Egyptians  vig- 

""Book  of  Mormon,"   (R),  p.  639.  "Matt.  6:  13. 

"Matt.  6:14,  (R),  Inspired  Translation. 


134    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

^  The  greater  part  of  the  Mormon  people,  the 
whole  body  of  the  Utah  Church  has  not  been 
sufficiently  impressed  with  this  book  to  accept 
it  as  a  guide  nor  adopt  it  as  authoritative." 

It  must  be  rather  embarrassing  to  this  wing 
J  of  the  Church,  in  view  of  the  repeated  references 
to  the  "  Inspired  Translation  '^  found  in  their 
official  book  of  "  Doctrine  and  Covenants,"  that 
they  have  refused  to  accept  the  book  now  that 
it  is  given." 

What  about  the  prophecy  that  "my  Scrip- 
tures shall  be  given  as  I  have  appointed,  and 
they  shall  be  preserved  in  safety  "?  '^ 

What  of  the  command,  "  they  shall  be  taught 
unto  all  nations,  kindreds,  tongues,  and  peo- 
ple'^?"^° 

Even  the  representatives  of  the  Reorganized 
^^  Church  would  rarely  venture  to  quote  the  por- 
tions referred  to  in  the  preceding  pages.  They 
use  the  Authorized  Version  of  the  Scriptures 
almost  exclusively,  as  it  is  far  more  palatable. 


orously  denounced  by  the  prophet.  18-26  verses— God's 
mercies  promised  to  the  people  notwithstanding  their  re- 
bellion.   27-33— Apocalyptic  judgments  upon  Assyria. 

In  the  light  of  these  facts,  so  briefly  set  forth,  it  is 
strange  indeed  that  any  person  should  ever  have  been  de- 
ceived in  believing  that  this  chapter — 29th — has  the  re- 
motest reference  to  the  "  Book  of  Mormon." 

"  Deseret  Evening  News,  February  21,  1900,  Linn,  p.  71. 
""Doctrine  and  Covenants/'  (U),  pp.  174,  188,  260,  ZZZ* 
334,  440. 
''Ibid.,  42:  s6,  '"Ibid.,  42:58. 


THE  HOLY  SCEIPTURES  135 

Here  the  two  wings  of  Mormonism  balance 
each  other  in  rejecting  an  inspired  book  of  their 
Prophet.  The  Keorganized  accepts  the  Inspired 
Translation  and  rejects  the  "Book  of  Abra- 
ham." The  Utah  Church  accepts  the  "  Book  of 
Abraham "  and  rejects  the  Inspired  Transla- 
tion. Let  us  hope  that  the  young  and  rising 
generations  of  the  Mormon  people  will  have  the 
judgment  and  courage  of  conviction  to  reject 
both  of  these  books  as  well  as  the  Prophet  who 
gave  them. 

So  much  for  the  sacred  books  we  have  men- 
tioned. There  is  much  more  evidence  of  things 
*^  wrong  "  about  them  than  we  have  presented. 


VIII 

MOEMON  DOCTEINES 

f   I   ^HESE  doctrines  were  summarized  by 
Joseph  Smith  as  follows : 


1 


**We  believe  in  God  the  Eternal  Father,  and  in 
His  Son  Jesus  Christ,  and  in  the  Holy  Ghost. 

We  believe  that  men  will  be  punished  for  their 
own  sins,  and  not  for  Adam's  transgression. 

We  believe  that  through  the  atonement  of  Christ 
all  mankind  may  be  saved  by  obedience  to  the  laws 
and  ordinances  of  the  gospel. 

We  believe  that  these  ordinances  are:  1st.  Faith 
in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  2nd.  Repentance.  3rd. 
Baptism  by  immersion  for  the  remission  of  sins.  4th. 
Laying  on  of  hands  for  the  gift  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 

We  believe  that  a  man  must  be  called  of  God  by 
^prophecy,  and  by  laying  on  of  hands*  by  those  who 
are  in  authority  to  preach  the  gospel  and  administer 
in  the  ordinances  thereof. 

We  believe  in  the  same  organization  that  existed 
in  the  primitive  Church,  viz :  apostles,  prophets,  pas- 
tors, teachers,  evangelists,  etc. 

We  believe  in  the  gift  of  tongues,  prophecy,  reve- 
lation, visions,  healing,  interpretation  of  tongues,  etc. 

We  believe  the  Bible  to  be  the  word  of  God  as  far 
136 


MOEMON  DOCTRINES  137 

as  it  is  translated  correctly;  we  also  believe  the  'Book 
of  Mormon'  to  be  the  word  of  God. 

"We  believe  that  God  has  revealed,  all  that  he  does 
now  reveal,  and  we  believe  that  he  will  yet  reveal 
many  great  and  important  things  pertaining  to  the 
kingdom  of  God. 

We  believe  in  the  literal  gathering  of  Israel,  and 
in  the  restoration  of  the  ten  tribes.  That  Zion  will 
be  built  upon  this  (American)  continent.  That 
Christ  will  reign  personally  upon  the  earth,  and  that 
the  earth  will  be  renewed  and  receive  its  paradisaic 
glory. 

We  claim  the  privilege  of  worshipping  Almighty 
God  according  to  the  dictates  of  our  conscience,  and 
allow  all  men  the  same^  privilege  let  them  worship 
how,  where  or  what  they  may. 

We  believe  in  being  subject  to  Kings,  Presidents, 
Eulers,  and  Magistrates,  in  obeying,  honoring  and 
sustaining  the  law. 

We  believe  in  being  honest,  true,  chaste,  benevo- 
lent, virtuous,  and  in  doing  good  to  all  men ;  indeed 
we  may  say  that  we  follow  the  admonition  of  Paul, 
*We  believe  all  things  we  hope  all  things'  we  have 
endured  many  things  and  hope  to  be  able  to  endure 
all  things.  If  there  is  anything  virtuous,  lovely,  or 
of  good  report,  or  praiseworthy,  we  seek  after  these 
things.    Respectfully,  etc.. 


Joseph  Smith. 


j>  1 


At  the  time  this  statement  was  made,  the 

*  Printed  in  the  Chicago   Democrat,  March,   1842.     Also 
in  Mormon  paper,  Times  and  Seasons,  Vol.  3,  p.  709- 


138    THE  FOUl^DATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

Churcli  was  under  a  cloud  in  Illinois.  It  had 
been  driven  from  Ohio  into  Missouri  and  from 
Missouri  into  Illinois.  The  violence  accom- 
panying these  movements  attracted  national  at- 
tention and  interest.  Was  this  a  revival  of  re- 
ligious persecution?  What  do  these  people  be- 
lieve? The  above  statement  was  solicited  by 
Hon.  John  Wentworth,  editor  of  the  Chicago 
Democrat^  in  order  that  the  public  might  be  in- 
formed. 

Such  a  statement  would  seemingly  indicate, 
to  those  uninformed,  that  the  Mormons  were 
persecuted  for  holding  a  simple  and  harmless 
religious  belief. 

The  Mormons  were  never  persecuted  for  their 
belief  alone.  The  persecution  in  every  case 
arose  out  of  the  impact  of  their  life  upon  the 
life  of  their  Gentile  neighbors  with  whom  they 
were  unable  to  live  in  peace. 

Both  branches  of  the  Mormon  Church  use 
this  statement  as  an  epitome  of  the  faith.  The 
statement  is  misleading  because  we  know  there 
are  other  distinctive  doctrines  that  are  held  by 
the  Mormons.  Some  of  these  doctrines  have 
been  illustrated  elsewhere  in  this  book. 

Some  leading  conceptions,  shared  alike  by  all 
Mormons,  we  may  mention  here.  The  doctrine 
of  a  complete  apostasy  of  all  Christendom  from 
the  true  faith  of  Christ  is  preached  in  order  to 
lay  a  foundation  for  other  Mormon  claims. 


MOEMON  DOCTEINES  139 

Many  disconnected  passages  of  Scripture  are 
quoted  to  sustain  this  contention.  Great  ad- 
vantage is  taken  of  the  fact  that  there  have  been 
many  manifestations  of  apostasy.  Little  is  said 
concerning  the  unbroken  history  of  Christi- 
anity ;  little  account  is  taken  of  the  heroism  and 
chivalry  of  Christian  missionaries;  little  is 
known  by  the  Mormons  of  the  marvellous  ac- 
complishments of  the  modern  missionary  move- 
ment; little  account  is  taken  of  the  power  in 
Christianity  to  purify  itself  from  corrupting  in- 
fluences. Another  fundamental  doctrine  built 
upon  this  is  the  doctrine  of  the  restoration. 
Since  all  that  pertained  to  primitive  Christi- 
anity was  utterly  lost  in  apostasy,  it  follows  if 
the  true  faith  be  found  upon  the  earth  it  must 
be  restored.  Such  is  the  claim  of  Mormonism. 
The  Mormon  Church  is  the  repository  of  that 
faith  and  Joseph  Smith  the  instrument  through 
which  it  was  brought  about. 

Like  others,  the  Mormons  believe  that  salva- 
tion is  mediated  through  the  Church;  the 
Church  is  the  kingdom  of  God,  without  it  none 
can  be  saved. 

The  vision  which  John  saw,  of  an  angel  flying 
"  in  the  midst  of  heaven,  having  the  everlasting 
Gospel  to  preach  unto  them  that  dwell  on  the 
earth," '  is  taken  literally.  That  angel,  so  the 
Mormon  Elders  claim,  came  to  Joseph  Smith 

'Rev.  14:6. 


140    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

and  delivered  the  keys  of  the  Kingdom.  If 
Smith  himself  ever  made  such  a  claim  it  is  not 
clearly  in  evidence.  In  the  same  vision  of  John 
there  were  several  other  angels  to  follow  but  the 
Mormons  have  no  explanation  of  that  fact. 

The  Mormons  are  inconsistent  in  charging 
apostasy  upon  the  Christians  in  view  of  the  fact 
that  they  are  hopelessly  divided  among  them- 
selves. 

Another  doctrine  that  takes  its  place  among 
the  fundamental  conceptions  of  Mormonism  is 
the  doctrine  of  *^*^  present  day  revelation/^  The 
Church  is  to  be  guided  by  the  voice  of  the  Presi- 
dent and  Prophet.  The  people  may  have  visions, 
dreams,  prophecies,  tongues,  etc.,  but  not  for 
the  guidance  of  the  Church.  The  Prophet  has 
reserved  the  right  of  control.  Under  the  doc- 
trine of  revelation  all  the  unique  things  in  Mor- 
monism have  come  into  existence. 

Both  branches  of  Mormonism  profess  to  have 
the  "  spiritual  gifts  '' ;  they  speak  with  tongues 
and  prophesy,  but  each  regard  the  other  as 
false.  The  belief  in  revelation  has  been  like  a 
Pandora  Box,  out  of  which  many  evils  have 
come. 

On  the  other  hand,  there  is  very  little  of  prac- 
tical benefit  that  has  come  to  the  Mormons 
through  this  source.  The  Utah  Church  has  al- 
most ceased  to  have  a  revelation  for  its  guid- 
ance; it  has  found  that  practical  genius  and 


MORMON  DOCTRINES  141 

common  sense  are  more  profitable  to  use. 
Brigham  Young  gave  but  one  revelation,  and 
that  was  concerning  the  organization  for  the 
march  from  Council  Bluffs  to  Utah  in  1847.' 

In  the  proceedings  of  the  Smoot  investigation 
at  Washington,  President  Joseph  F.  Smith  ad- 
mitted that  he  had  not  received  any  revelations." 

An  example  of  the  working  of  these  charis- 
matic gifts  may  be  seen  in  the  following  recent 
experiences.    We  quote : 

** Spiritual  manifestations  at  the  Lamoni  (Iowa) 
Stake  Reunion."  ''The  Lord  speaks  to  the  people 
in  many  ways. 

He  is  not  confined  to  tongues  and  prophecies  as 
avenues  of  communication.  He  speaks  through  the 
inspired  sermon,  the  fervent  testimony  and  the 
spiritual  hymn  or  anthem. 

And  in  many  other  ways.  It  is  reported  that  the 
late  reunion  of  the  Lamoni  Stake  was  one  of  the 
best  ever  held  ...  the  gift  of  prophecy  or  vi- 
sion being  given  some  seven  times.  "^ 

The  following  is  a  part  of  a  "  spiritual  com- 
munication "  given  at  this  meeting,  at  a  prayer 
service  held  July  31, 1912,  through  Elder  E.  M. 
Elvin. 

''And  unto  you  my  servant  George  Hilliard,  I 


"Doctrine  and  Covenants,"  (U),  sec.  136. 
"Brighamism  Exposed,"   (R),  p.  208. 
Saints'  Herald,  (R),  Vol.  59,  p.  922. 


142    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

have  watched  over  thee  all  these  many  years,  called 
thee  out  of  the  world,  and  from  the  ways  of  sin,  be- 
cause of  the  integrity  of  thy  heart;  and  notwith- 
standing thou  hast  offended  thy  brethren  many  times 
by  thy  plainness  of  speech  thou  art  forgiven. 

Be  steadfast,  for  in  thy  trials  and  thy  afflictions 
and  thy  difficulties,  thy  prayers  and  the  prayers  of 
my  people  have  been  successful  in  raising  thee  up 
for  the  work  that  I  have  for  thee  yet  to  do. 

It  has  been  wisdom  in  me,  it  has  been  my  loving 
kindness  for  the  good  of  my  work  that  thou  shouldst 
continue  yet  in  the  office  that  thou  hast  been 
called  to.' '• 

Mr.  Hilliard  was  the  first  counsellor  to  the 
Presiding  Bishop  of  the  Eeorganized  Church. 
In  the  preceding  April  Conference,  because  of 
physical  disability,  he  had  asked  to  be  released 
from  service.  However,  the  conference  voted 
to  retain  him.  The  above  revelation  was  pub- 
lished September  25,  1912,  and  Mr.  Hilliard 
died  October  8,  1912.'  So  the  man  who  gave 
this  revelation  made  a  poor  prognostication  con- 
cerning the  future  of  this  alBicted  man.  But 
he  did  it  and  it  was  accepted  as  a  genuine  mani- 
festation of  the  "  gifts  of  the  spirit." 

In  connection  with  the  publication  of  this 
revelation  the  Editor  adds: 

''It  is  not  always  wise  to  publish  reports  of  spiri- 

'  Saints'  Herald,  (R),  Vol.  59,  pp.  922-923. 
'Ibid.,  Vol.  59,  p.  993- 


MOEMON  DOCTEINES  143 

tual  manifestations  for  at  least  two  reasons.  First, 
tliey  are  sometimes  of  a  strictly  personal  nature 
.  .  .  Second,  they  are  not  submitted  to  the 
scrutiny  of  the  Quorums  of  the  Church  .  .  .  but 
in  this  case  there  seems  to  be  nothing  in  these  mani- 
festations of  such  a  personal  nature  that  harm  will 
be  done  by  the  publication. '' ' 

Had  the  Editor  known  that  the  man  who  was 
the  subject  of  this  revelation  was  really  going 
to  die  in  a  few  days  after  the  publication  of  the 
same,  doubtless  he  would  have  seen  the  "  harm '' 
and  withheld  it  from  the  press. 

What  about  revelations  endorsed  by  the 
quorums  of  the  Church:  Does  that  guarantee 
their  genuineness?  We  will  cite  an  interesting 
example.  On  April  14,  1914,  President  Joseph 
Smith  of  the  Reorganized  Church  gave  the  fol- 
lowing revelation: 

**.  .  .  there  came  to  me  the  directing  voice  of 
Him  whose  work  we  are  engaged  in.  Thus  saith  the 
spirit  to  the  Church:  The  time  has  now  come  when 
the  necessities  of  the  work  require  that  the  servants 
of  the  Church,  Bishops  Edwin  A.  Blakeslee  and  Ed- 
mund L.  Kelley  should  be  more  closely  associated  in 
carrying  on  the  financial  affairs  of  the  Church. 

The  spirit  saith  further :  That  it  is  expedient  that 
additional  aid  be  given  to  the  bishopric  in  charge  of 
the  general  affairs  of  the  finances  and  to  do  this 
^Saints'  Herald,  (R),  Vol.  59,  p.  925. 


144    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MORMONISM 

Richard  C.  Kelley,  son  of  my  servant  Bishop  Ed- 
mund L.  Kelley  should  be  called  and  ordained.'' 

Upon  the  presentation  of  this  revelation  the 
quorums  met  to  pass  upon  it.  Most  of  them 
voted  to  endorse  it  as  a  "  Revelation  of  tlie  will 
of  God."  However,  in  a  mass  meeting  of  the 
Elders,  five  of  them  were  "  permitted  to  with- 
hold their  vote  either  for  or  against."  If  a  suf- 
ficient number  had  refused  to  endorse  tlie  revela- 
tion, the  supposition  is  that  it  would  not  liave 
been  considered  as  genuine.^ 

Tlie  reception  of  a  revelation  is  always  an 
occasion  of  joy  to  the  Saints.  They  feel  that  the 
Lord  has  set  things  right  for  them.  They  boast 
of  the  great  advantage  of  their  belief  in  present 
day  revelation  in  this  form. 

At  the  close  of  the  year  succeeding  the  giving 
of  this  revelation,  Bishop  Kelley  reported  that 
Mr.  Blakeslee  had  been  "able  to  increase  his 
help  in  the  work  " ;  that  the  other  man  named 
in  the  revelation,  Mr.  R.  C.  Kelley,  "  gave  valu- 
able assistance  in  the  office,"  but,  being  in  debt, 
left  to  do  work  in  other  pursuits." 

At  this  conference  (1915)  it  was  voted,  upon 
a  report  offered  by  the  leading  quorums  of  the 
Church,  that  Bishop  Kelley  be  honorably  re- 
leased from  his  work.     The  principal  reason 

"Conference  Minutes,  1914,  (R),  pp.  1917-1922. 
"/tirf.,  1915,  2033. 


MOEMON  DOCTEINES  145 

given  was,  "WKereas  the  Presiding  Bishop  is 
now  past  seventy  years  of  age,  and  owing  to  the 
enormous  increase  in  the  extent  and  burden  of 
the  work  in  his  department  and  probable  in- 
crease of  this  work." 

Is  it  not  strange  that  human  wisdom  should 
thus  supersede  the  purported  divine  wisdom  in 
this  matter?  The  revelation  declared  that  the 
^^  time  has  now  come  "  when  these  men  were  to 
do  so  and  so ;  after  only  one  year  the  whole  plan 
has  utterly  broken  down. 

But  more  revelations  of  the  kind  are  easily 
obtained.  President  Joseph  Smith  having  died, 
a  new  Prophet,  Frederick  M.  Smith,  appears 
and  unwittingly  indicates  the  source  of  the  in- 
spiration by  which  Mormon  Prophets  are  guided 
by  saying,  ^'At  the  time  of  the  conference  of 
1915, 1  was  not  prepared  to  name  the  successor 
to  Bishop  Kelley." 

On  April  5,  1916,  he  gave  his  first  revelation 
to  the  Church,  in  which  he  says,  ''  I  am  there- 
fore now  prepared  to  say  that  the  voice  of  the 
spirit  to  me  is  that  Bishop  E.  L.  Kelley  should 
be  released  from  the  responsibilities  of  Presid- 
ing Bishop.  ,  .  .  Let  Benjamin  R.  McGuire 
be  set  apart  and  ordained  Presiding  Bishop  of 
the  Church."  " 

The  Church,  led  on  by  its  quorums,  endorsed 

^^  Saints'  Herald,  (R),  published  at  Lamoni,  la.,  Vol.  63, 
p.  373. 


146    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

this  revelation  at  once.  The  record  of  these 
revelations  will  make  rather  doubtful  reading 
for  the  faithful  in  time  to  come,  and  it  will  be 
rather  difficult  to  see  wherein  this  revelation 
method  has  any  advantage  over  any  ordinary 
Church  council  that  lays  no  claim  to  revelation 
of  that  sort. 

This  first  revelation  given  by  the  new  Prophet 
contains  so  much  by  way  of  explanation  and 
ordinary  matter,  that  the  Church  had  to  take 
action  to  separate  the  divine  element  from  the 
secular,  as  it  appears  in  the  document. 

''Moved,  that  we  approve  the  document  presented 
by  President  Fred'k  M.  Smith,  and  endorse  as  reve- 
lation that  portion  which  contains  instruction  by 
voice  of  the  Holy  Spirit  to  the  Church.'' " 

A  cursory  glance  at  all  Mormon  revelations 
will  clearly  reveal  their  predominating  human 
character.  Inasmuch  as  the  Mormon  idea  of 
authoritative  revelation  concentrates  the  power 
of  reception  in  one  man,  if  that  man  be  a  good 
man,  or  evil,  the  revelation  will  bear  the  reflec- 
tion of  his  thoughts  and  ideals.  It  was  only 
under  such  a  pretext  that  polygamy  could  ever 
have  come  in  our  enlightened  United  States. 

Another  fundamental  doctrine  accepted  by  all 
Mormons  is  that  of  the  near  ending  of  the  world. 
Out  of  this  conception  came  the  name  "  Latter 
"^Saints'  Herald,  (R),  Vol.  63,  p.  373- 


MOEMON  DOCTRINES  147 

Day  Saints/'  The  Mormons  believe  they  are 
living  in  the  "  latter  "  days ;  the  days  near  the 
end  of  all  things.  According  to  their  numerous 
calculations  that  ending  should  have  come  long 
since. 

At  the  time  of  the  development  of  Mormonism 
many  Christians  were  deeply  moved  by  agita- 
tion along  such  lines.  Mormonism  has  used  the 
various  arguments  in  support  of  such  theories, 
with  telling  advantage  to  itself. 

The  doctrine  of  tithing  is  accepted  by  all 
Mormons  as  the  proper  method  for  the  financing 
of  the  Church.  Their  revelations  declare  this 
to  be  "  a  day  for  the  tithing  of  my  people ;  for 
he  that  is  tithed  shall  not  be  burned.""  The 
observance  of  this  doctrine  has  brought  vast 
wealth  to  the  treasury  of  the  Church. 

The  doctrine  of  the  entire  consecration  of 
one's  property  is  found  in  the  teachings  of  Mor- 
monism. Every  faithful  Mormon  is  supposed 
to  make  an  inventory  of  his  possessions  and  lay 
it  before  the  bishop  of  the  Church.  This  prop- 
erty, or  such  portions  of  it  as  the  bishop  may  see 
fit  to  take,  is  at  the  command  of  the  Church." 

At  the  time  Smith  made  the  statement  at  the 
beginning  of  this  chapter  he  was  formulating 
the  doctrine  of  baptism  for  the  dead.  All  Mor- 
mons believe  this  doctrine  but  only  the  Utah 

""Doctrine  and  Covenants,"  (R),  64:5. 
'*  Ibid,,  42 : 8, 9. 


148    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

Mormons  practice  it.  Smith,  declared  tliat  those 
who  reject  it  do  so  at  the  peril  of  their  own  sal- 
vation. The  Keorganized  Church  is  waiting  for 
a  commandment  from  the  Lord  to  resume  its 
practice. 

All  Mormons  believe  in  patriarclial  blessings; 
that  is,  the  patriarch  lays  his  hands  upon  those 
who  desire  and  pronounces  blessings  upon  their 
heads.  He  points  out  their  lineage,  indicating 
that  they  belong  to  such  and  such  a  tribe ;  most 
of  the  people  are  told  that  they  belong  to  the 
tribe  of  Ephraim.  The  fees  desired  for  this 
service  have  been  the  cause  of  some  unsavory 
criticism. 

The  epitome  says  nothing  of  the  fact  that 
every  faithful  Utah  Mormon  wears  upon  his 
body  an  undergarment,  received  in  the  Endow- 
ment House,  into  the  fabric  of  which  is  woven 
colored  figures  that  only  a  Mormon  can  in- 
terpret. 

While  it  is  stated  that  the  Mormons  believe 
"  in  God  the  Eternal  Father,"  it  is  a  well-known 
fact  that  the  Utah  Mormons  believe  in  a  plu- 
rality of  Gods.  It  is  also  true  that  the  Prophet 
Joseph  Smith  was  charged  with  having  taught 
this  doctrine  at  Nauvoo. 

Nothing  is  said  about  the  doctrine  of  plu- 
rality of  wives  that  so  distinguishes  Mormonism. 
The  Keorganized  Church  does  not  accept  this 
doctrine.     Their  rejection  of  it  is  not  consistent 


MOEMON  DOCTEINES  149 

with  their  acceptance  of  the  claims  of  Joseph 
Smith  as  a  Prophet,  for  he  is  the  author  of  the 
doctrine. 

The  Utah  Mormons  claim  that  since  1890  they 
have  abandoned  polygamy  and  they  have  suc- 
ceeded in  getting  many  people  to  believe  their 
assertions  that  it  is  a  "  dead  issue." 

The  following  is  in  evidence :  Concerning  the 
recent  death  of  Joseph  F.  Smith,  late  President 
of  the  Mormon  Church,  a  newspaper  account 
says: 

''Altho  he  was  an  avowed  polygamist  for  many 
years,  the  late  President  of  the  Mormon  Church 
changed  his  views  latterly,  and  left  a  sick  bed  last 
October  (1918)  to  attend  a  semiannual  conference 
held  in  the  Temple  at  Salt  Lake  City,  and  denounced 
the  members  of  the  church  who  had  taken  more 

THAN  ONE  WIFE  RECENTLY  AND  KEPT  THE  MARRIAGES 

SECRET. ' '  " 

It  will  be  difficult  to  stop  the  practice  of  a 
doctrine  that  is  so  generally  accepted.  Every 
orthodox  Mormon  believes  in  polygamy  as  a 
divine  principle.  The  younger  element  of  the 
Mormons  defend  the  doctrine  very  ardently.  It 
is  taught  in  their  text  books  and  circulated 
through  the  mails.  It  looks  like  the  above 
statement  was  made  designedly,  wherein  it  says 
that  Joseph  F.  Smith,  polygamist,  "  changed 

15  Literary  Digest,  December  7,  1918. 


150    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

his  views  latterly/'  for  he  had  been  married  six 
times  and  was  survived  by  ^\e  wives  and  forty- 
three  children  and  ninety-one  grandchildren. 
His  successor,  Heber  J.  Grant,  is  also  a  polyga- 
mist  in  faith  and  practice. 

The  polygamous  revelation  in  which  they  all 
believe  says,  "  No  one  can  reject  this  covenant 
and  be  permitted  to  enter  into  my  glory  .  .  . 
those  who  have  this  law  revealed  unto  them 
must  obey  the  same."  " 

The  policy  of  all  Mormons  is  to  preach  *'  first 
principles  "  to  the  world  which  seem  harmless 
enough  but  the  wicked  and  dangerous  elements 
come  along  gradually  after  the  convert  is  well 
initiated  into  the  system. 

""Doctrine  and  Covenants/'  (U),  sec.  132. 


IX 

MORMON  ORGANIZATION 

MORMONISM  is  far  famed  for  its  ex- 
tensive   and    efO-cient    organization. 
The  following  will  indicate  the  ex- 
tensiveness : 

''There  are  in  the  Church  two  priesthoods; 
namely:  The  Melchisedec,  and  the  Aaronie,  includ- 
ing the  Levitical  priesthood. ' ' ' 

' '  There  are  twenty  separate  offices,  requiring  just 
so  many  separate  and  distinct  ordinations  in  both 
orders  of  the  priesthood  .  .  .  These  officers  are 
as  follows: 

The  President. 

Counsellors  to  President. 

The  twelve  Apostles. 

The  Seventy. 

The  Seven  Presidents  of  Seventy. 

The  Patriarch. 

Evangelical  Ministers. 

High  Priests. 

Elders. 

Bishops. 

Bishops'  Counsellors. 

*"  Doctrine  and  Covenants,"  (R),  164:1. 
151 


152    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMOKISM 

High  Council. 

Stake  Council. 

Stake  Presidents. 

Counsellors  to  Stake  Presidents. 

Presidents  of  Quorums. 

Counsellors  to  Presidents  of  Quorums. 

Priests. 

Teachers. 

Deacons.'*'* 

Nearly  every  male  member  of  the  Mormon 
Church  holds  one  or  more  of  the  many  offices  in 
the  priesthood.  All  of  the  many  offices  are  in 
direct  relation  to  the  chief  Prophet  or  President 
of  the  Church.  All  the  offices  above  that  of  the 
Priest  belong  to  the  Melchisedec  order.  The 
lesser  order,  the  Aaronic,  is  composed  of 
Bishops,  Priests,  Teachers  and  Deacons.  The 
Priesthood  is  otherwise  divided  in  two  divisions 
known  as  the  Foreign  Ministry  and  the  Home 
Ministry.  The  former  consisting  of  Apostles, 
Seventies  and  Elders;  the  latter  consisting  of 
High  Priests  and  Elders  and  all  the  officers  of 
the  lesser  priesthood.  The  Bishopric,  beside 
the  duty  of  presiding  over  the  Aaronic  Priest- 
hood, has  jurisdiction  over  the  temporal  affairs 
of  the  Church,  the  collection  of  tithes,  super- 

NoTE.— There  are  several  "stakes"  in  Utah  and  vicinity. 
Lamoni,  Iowa,  and  Independence,  Mo.,  are  the  leading 
"  stakes  "  of  the  Reorganized  Church. 

' "  Exegesis  of  the  Priesthood,"  (R),  by  Griffiths,  p.  86. 


MOEMON  OEGANIZATION  153 

vision  of  property,  distribution  of  goods,  etc. 
A  Stake  is  a  territorial  division  of  the  Church, 
presided  over  by  a  High  Priest.  There  are  vari- 
ous auxiliary  organizations,  as  the  Belief  So- 
cieties, Zion's  Eeligio-Literary  Society,  Young 
Men's  and  Young  Women's  Mutual  Improve- 
ment Associations,  Sabbath  Schools,  etc.  The 
Mormons  are  great  propagandists,  the  idea  be- 
ing inculcated  in  them  from  childhood.  A 
recent  report  says  the  Mormon  Church  is 
''  stronger  in  point  of  membership,  wealth  and 
geographical  extension  than  it  has  ever  been 
before.'' '  In  1902  an  official  report  was  made 
showing  that  of  the  Mormon  membership  36,745 
are  listed  as  belonging  to  some  grade  of  the 
Melchisedec  Priesthood  and  25,700  belonging  to 
the  Aaronic  Priesthood.*  These  figures  repre- 
sent the  Utah  Church  enrollment.  The  Ke- 
organized  Church  has  a  much  less  number,  only 
about  5,400  being  listed  as  ministers." 

The  majority  of  converts  to  Mormonism  are 
those  who  have  been  identified  with  some  evan- 
gelical Church.  The  Mormon  missionary  finds 
it  easy  to  make  an  appeal  to  people  of  visionary 
temperament,  those  who  believe  in  signs,  dreams, 
spirits,  etc.  They  are  often  able  to  draw  upon 
the  sympathies  of  the  people  by  relating  their 


^Literary  Digest,  December  7,  1918. 

* "  Mormonism— The  Islam  of  America,"  by  Kinney,  p.  77. 

'Conference  Minutes,  1915,  (R),  p.  1963. 


154    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

side  of  the  stories  of  persecution  and  sufferings 
in  consequence  of  their  missions.  They  ridicule 
the  ordinary  method  of  Church  finance,  telling 
the  people  how  the  preachers  are  fleecing  their 
flocks,  preaching  for  hire,  etc.,  but  are  careful 
to  withhold  the  Mormon  system  of  tithing  and 
entire  consecration  of  all  one's  property,  until 
the  convert  is  safely  landed  within  the  fold. 

The  missionary  makes  a  fruitful  appeal  to 
that  class  in  Protestantism  who  are  prone  to 
dissatisfaction.  Polygamy  as  a  doctrine  ap- 
peals to  the  sensual  minded.  To  the  covetous 
there  is  the  appeal  of  special  financial  and 
temporal  advantage,  as  the  Mormons  are  repre- 
sented as  being  prosperous  in  this  world's 
goods.  Another  strong  appeal  is  made  to  that 
class  of  men  who  are  looking  for  positions  of 
honor — ^the  Mormon  system  of  priesthood  holds 
up  the  prospect  of  ecclesiastical  position  and 
advancement.  These  positions  are  dealt  out  to 
those  who  are  in  the  favor  of  the  leading  men 
of  the  Church. 

The  aims  of  the  Mormon  organization  are  not 
confined  to  ecclesiastical  lines  alone;  the  or- 
ganization from  that  point  of  view  would  not 
have  attracted  the  attention  of  the  world  as  it 
has.  In  addition  there  is  the  matter  of  its  en- 
gagement in  temporal  pursuits — in  the  material 
things  of  the  world,  so  that  the  Church  has  be- 
come very  wealthy.     Its  officers  are  holding 


MOEMON  OEGANIZATION  155 

large  properties,  which  have  come  into  the 
possession  of  the  Church  by  the  Tithes  and  Con- 
secrations of  the  people.  The  anti-Mormon 
public  is  beginning  to  ask  if  the  Mormon  Church 
is  not  a  gigantic  "  Trust  ^'  and  as  such  in  viola- 
tion of  the  law.' 

There  have  been  scandals,  within  and  without 
the  Church,  over  the  matter  of  its  connection 
with  temporal  affairs  from  the  very  beginning  of 
its  history  to  the  present  time.  The  spiritual 
leaders  of  Mormonism  have  ever  taken  care  to 
keep  in  close  touch  and  control  of  financial 
matters.  The  organization  is  not  a  wealth  dis- 
tributing institution  but  has  been  wonderfully 
successful  in  collecting  wealth,  the  disposition 
of  which  is  concentrated  in  the  hands  of  a  few 
officials. 

Another  effect  of  the  Mormon  organization  is 
its  influence  in  political  circles.  The  political 
power  of  the  Church  has  been  one  thing  with 
which  the  United  States  Government  has  had 
to  reckon  in  not  a  few  instances.  In  Mormon- 
ism we  have  a  great  ecclesiastical,  temporal, 
and  political  government  within  the  national 
government.  It  is  openly  asserted  that  the 
Mormon  Church  holds  the  balance  of  power  in 
several  of  the  western  states.  It  is  compara- 
tively easy  for  the  Church  to  throw  its  votes  in 
favor  of  any  person,  or  persons,  whom  it  may 

'"Mormonism — The  Islam  of  America,"  p.  88. 


156    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

desire  to  have  elected  to  high  positions  in  state 
or  national  government.  Joseph  F.  Smith,  late 
President  of  the  Utah  Church,  was  regarded  as 
a  political  boss.  The  Reorganized  Church  has 
never  been  able  to  attain  sufficient  numerical 
strength  to  attract  attention  politically.  Its 
whole  system  of  government,  however,  is  the 
same  as  that  of  the  Utah  Church  in  a  modified 
form.  The  political  aspirations  of  the  Mormon 
Church  began  very  early  in  its  history.  Joseph 
Smith,  its  founder  and  chief  Prophet,  intro- 
duced a  kingly  form  of  government,  having  him- 
self ordained  as  King,  to  reign  over  the  house 
of  Israel  forever.' 

At  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  running  for 
the  presidency  of  the  United  States,  with  his 
colleague,  Sidney  Rigdon,  aspiring  to  be  vice 
president.^ 

Smith  had  called  in  practically  every  one  who 
was  out  as  a  missionary,  or  a  preacher  in  the 
Church,  and  had  sent  them  forth  to  stmnp  the 
country  for  him.  At  the  same  time  he  was  the 
Mayor  of  the  City  of  Nauvoo,  Judge  of  the 
Municipal  Court,  and  Lieutcnant-General  of  the 
Mormon  Army.  His  colleague,  Rigdon,  was 
postmaster  in  this  city  of  the  Saints. 

The  unseating  of  Mr.  Roberts,  a  Mormon 
Apostle,    from    the    Congress    of    the    United 

^Saints'  Herald,  Vol.  51,  No.  4,  statement  of  Wm.  Marks. 
^Nauvoo  Neighbor,  June  26,  1844. 


MOEMON  OEGANIZATION  157 

States,  and  the  recent  attempt  to  unseat  Senator 
Keed  Smoot,  another  Mormon  Apostle,  together 
with  the  Congressional  investigation  of  the 
whole  question,  have  brought  the  political 
phases  of  the  Mormon  Church  clearly  before  the 
world. 

In  the  State  of  Illinois,  before  there  was  any 
dissention  in  the  Mormon  Church,  because  of 
the  conduct  of  the  Church  a  neighboring  Gen- 
tile newspaper  inquires  of  the  citizens : 

**If  it  comes  to  this,  that  Joe  Smith  is  to  control 
the  number  of  votes  in  our  county,  are  we  not,  in 
effect,  the  subjects  of  a  despot?  Might  we  not  as 
well  be  serfs  to  the  autocrat  of  Russia?  What  need 
have  we  of  the  elective  franchise  when  a  Church  can 
rise  up  in  our  midst  controlled  by  the  magic  of  one 
to  dispense  political  favors/'' 

The  leading  aim  and  tendency  of  all  branches 
of  the  Mormon  Church  is  to  colonize,  to  do  all 
substantial  and  constructive  work  within  the 
gathering  places.  The  organization  of  the 
Church  is  suited  to  this  aim. 

Mr.  A.  L.  Thomas,  once  Governor  of  Utah, 
said: 

*'The  instinctive  love  of  country  which  is  the  dis- 
tinguishing characteristic  of  the  American  people 
does  not  find  a  responsive  sentiment  in  Utah. 

'Warsaw  Illinois  Signal,  June  9,  1841, 


158    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OP  MOEMONISM 

The  orthodox  Mormon,  in  every  political  and  busi- 
ness act,  puts  the  Church  first,  country  afterward. 

It  cannot  be  otherwise,  for  the  priesthood  claims 
all  government  but  its  own  to  be  illegal,  and  claims 
a  separate  political  destiny  and  ultimate  temporal 
dominion,  and  by  divine  right. ' ' " 

Concerning  the  power  and  influence  of  the 
Mormon  Church,  Dr.  Bruce  Kinney  has  said : 

**  Considering  their  numbers,  no  other  body  of 
people  in  the  world  exerts  so  great  an  influence  upon 
the  realm  of  which  it  is  a  part  .  .  .  because  of 
their  numbers,  organization,  solidarity,  fanaticism 
and  unpatriotic  political  intentions,  they  constitute 
the  gravest  menace  to  our  American  and  Christian 
institutions.''" 

As  we  thus  compare  the  Mormon  organiza- 
tion, which  the  Mormons  have  asserted  to  be  the 
same  as  that  of  the  primitive  Christian  Church, 
we  find  there  is  a  vast  difference  in  purpose, 
plan,  and  simplicity. 

Note. — The  membership  of  the  Mormon  Church  now 
numbers,  approximately,  600,000.  Of  _  this  number  about 
100,000  are  identified  with  the  Reorg^anized  Church.  In  the 
period  of  twenty-five  years  between  1890  and  1915,  the 
Mormon  Church  gained  in  membership  230,875. — World 
Almanac,  1918. 

Note. — Enquiry  of  the  Information  Bureau  of  The  Chris- 
tian Herald,  brought  the  following  reply  from  Mr.  Frederic 
J.  Haskin,  Director,  regarding  present  Mormon  statistics: 
"  There  is  no  data  obtainable  as  to  the  increase  in  member- 

"  The  Watchman-Examiner,  Vol.  9s,  No.  41.    Article. 
''Ibid, 


MORMOK  OEGANIZATION  159 

ship  of  late  years,  great  secrecy  being  observed  in  this 
matter."  Why  is  it  kept  secret  unless  for  some  insidious 
purpose? 

The  Reorganized  wing  published  their  statistics  and  in 
1895  numbered  32,889  members.  In  1919  they  report  90,825 
meml)ers  which  shows  substantial  growth.  The  total  assets 
of  this  body  amounted  to  $343,213.82  in  1912,  and  in  1919 
they  are  reported  as  $2,329,419.21. 

It  is  asserted  that  previous  to  the  war  "  about  seven  or 
eight  hundred  Mormon  converts,  mostly  women,  pass  through 
the  port  of  Boston  annually." 

It  is  also  said  that  the  amount  received  in  tithing  and 
consecrations,  by  the  President  of  the  Mormon  Church  in 
Utah,  is  $4,000,000  annually.  With  that  he  does  as  he  may 
please,  and  he  was  pleased  to  build  a  large  Mormon  Church 
in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  for  one  thing,  in  1918. 


MISSOUEI'S  DEFENSE 

IN  the  teacliing  of  Mormonism,  Missouri  is 
the  "Land  of  Promise."'  It  was  there 
that  they  hoped  to  establish  Zion,  the  New 
Jerusalem,  the  City  of  God.  They  made  at- 
tempts to  gather  within  the  State  at  Independ- 
ence, and  also  at  Far  West.  From  both  these 
places  they  were  driven  out  by  drastic  methods. 
Because  of  this  there  was  always  a  feeling  on 
the  part  of  the  Mormons  against  the  people  of 
the  State.  After  the  Mormons  settled  in  Illi- 
nois, its  leaders  were  wanted  by  the  authori- 
ties of  the  State  of  Missouri,  to  answer  to  sev- 
eral charges  which  had  been  lodged  against 
them  and  on  which  they  were  awaiting  trial  in 
jail  when  they  made  their  escape.  However, 
the  authorities  of  the  State  of  Missouri  were 
never  able  to  succeed  in  capturing  these  men. 
But  why  did  Missouri  persecute  the  Mormons? 
Was  the  State  guilty  of  the  sin  of  religious  per- 
secution? The  Mormons  had  spread  abroad  the 
report  that  they  were  victims  of  injustice  and 

*"  Doctrine  and  Covenants,"  (R),  57:2. 
160 


MISSOUEI'S  DEFENSE  161 

religious  intolerance,  and  tliat,  too,  in  a  pro- 
fessed Christian  land.  In  order  to  answer  these 
charges  and  explain  the  attitude  of  the  State, 
and  that  the  facts  might  be  known,  the  State 
Legislature,  in  1841,  upon  the  recommendation 
of  the  Governor,  ordered  printed  a  document, 
"  Containing  the  Correspondence,  Orders,  etc., 
in  relation  to  the  disturbances  with  the  Mor- 
mons, and  the  evidence  given  before  the  Fifth 
Judicial  Circuit  Court  at  Richmond,  in  a  trial 
of  Joseph  Smith,  Jr.,  and  others  for  high  treason 
and  other  crimes  against  the  State,  November 
12,  1838." ' 

Copies  of  this  document  are  rare,  but  the 
matter  set  forth  is  of  vital  interest  to  every 
person  who  desires  information  with  regard  to 
the  history  of  Mormonism.  The  evidence  given 
was  that  which  came  principally  from  those 
who  had  been  Mormons,  many  of  them  holding 
high  office  in  the  Church.  This  evidence  shows 
the  inner  character  of  the  movement  and  how 
it  was  that  such  a  body  of  people  could  not  be 
tolerated  in  a  land  of  equal  rights  and  privi- 
leges.    Quoting  from  this  document  we  notice 

Note. — The  Mormons  have  boasted  the  assertion  that 
Smith,  though  arrested  many  times,  was,  in  most  cases,  en- 
tirely absolved  from  all  charges.  In  the  instance  cited  above 
he  was  never  brought  to  final  trial.  In  other  instances 
charges  made  by  his  accusers  were  dismissed  by  courts 
whose  officers  were  Mormons, 

'A  copy  is  in  the  New  York  City  Public  I^ibrary. 


162    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

the  testimony  of  Mr.  Thomas  B.  Marsh,  who 
was  President  of  the  Twelve  Apostles.  He 
testified  before  this  court  as  follows : 

* '  They  have  among  them  a  company  consisting  of 
all  that  are  considered  true  Mormons,  called  the  Dan- 
ites,  who  have  taken  an  oath  to  support  the  heads 
of  the  church  in  all  things  that  they  say  or  do, 
whether  right  or  wrong ;  many  however,  of  this  band 
are  much  dissatisfied  with  this  oath  as  being  against 
moral  and  religious  principles.  On  Saturday  last 
I  am  informed  by  the  Mormons  that  they  had  a 
meeting  at  Far  West  at  which  they  appointed  a 
Company,  for  the  purpose  of  burning  and  destroy- 
ing ;  .  .  .  This  burning  was  to  be  done  secretly 
by  going  as  incendiaries.  At  the  same  meeting,  I  was 
told,  that  no  Mormon  dissenter  should  leave  Cald- 
well County  alive ;  and  that  such  as  attempted  to  do 
it  should  be  shot  down  .  .  .  The  plan  of  said 
Smith,  the  Prophet,  is  to  take  this  State  and  he  pro- 
fesses to  his  people  to  intend  taking  the  United 
States,  and  ultimately  the  whole  world  ...  I 
have  heard  the  Prophet  say  that  he  would  yet  tread 
down  his  enemies  and  walk  over  their  dead  bodies; 
that  if  he  was  not  let  alone  he  would  be  a  second 
Mahomet  to  this  generation,  and  that  he  would  make 
it  one  gore  of  blood  from  the  Rocky  Mountains  to 
the  Atlantic  Ocean  .  .  .  So  it  should  be  even- 
tually with  us,  *  Joseph  Smith,  or  the  sword.'  '* 

Following  this  statement  appears  the  state- 
ment of  Orson  Hyde,  another  one  of  the  famous 
**Apostles,"  who  says : 


MISSOURI'S  DEFENSB  1(5S 

''The  most  of  the  itatementg  in  the  foregoing  dis- 
closure of  Thomas  B.  Marsh,  I  know  to  be  true,  the 
remainder  I  believe  to  be  true. ' ' 

These  statements  were  subscribed  and  sworn 
to  October  24,  1838.  Mr.  John  Whitmer,  one 
of  the  famous  "witnesses"  to  the  "Book  of 
Mormon,"  testified  in  part : 

*' About  the  17th  of  April  last,  at  a  meeting  of 
perhaps  twenty-five,  in  Far  West,  Joseph  Smith,  Jr., 
spoke  in  reference  to  difficulties  they  had  and  their 
persecutions,  and  etc.,  in  and  out  of  the  church.  Mr. 
Smith  said  in  the  future  he  did  not  intend  to  have 
any  process  served  on  him,  and  the  officer  who  at- 
tempted it  should  die;  that  any  person  who  spoke 
or  acted  against  the  Presidency  or  the  Church  should 
leave  the  Country  or  die." 

Mr.  John  Cleminson  testified,  in  part,  as 
follows : 

*'When  process  was  filed  against  Joseph  Smith 
and  others  in  my  office  as  Clerk  of  Caldwell  Circuit 
Court,  for  trespass,  Joseph  Smith,  Jr.,  told  me  not 
to  issue  that  writ,  that  he  did  not  intend  to  submit 
to  it;  .  .  .  That  he  would  not  suffer  it  to  be 
issued ;  and  I  felt  myself  intimidated  and  in  danger, 
if  I  issued  it,  knowing  the  regulations  of  the  Danite 
Band.  ...  I  went  in  the  expedition  to  Daviess 
County  in  which  Gallatin  was  burned  as  I  felt  my- 
self compelled  to  go/' 


164    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

Samson  Avard,  who  was  known  as  a  leader 
of  the  Danite  Band,  gave  his  testimony  as  fol- 
lows: 

'*  About  four  months  ago,  a  band,  called  the 
Daughter  of  Zion  was  formed  by  the  members  of  the 
Mormon  Church,  the  original  object  of  which  was  to 
drive  from  the  County  of  Caldwell  all  those  who 
dissented  from  the  Mormon  Church;  in  which  they 
succeeded  admirably,  and  to  the  satisfaction  of  those 
concerned.  I  considered  Joseph  Smith,  Jr.,  as  the 
prime  mover  and  organizer  of  this  Danite  Band. 
The  officers  of  the  band,  according  to  their  grades 
were  brought  before  him,  at  a  school  house,  together 
with  Hyrum  Smith  and  Sydney  Rigdon;  the  three 
composing  the  First  Presidency  of  the  whole  Church. 
Joseph  Smith,  Jr.,  blessed  them  and  prophesied  over 
them;  declaring  that  they  should  be  the  means,  in 
the  hands  of  God,  of  bringing  forth  the  millennial 
kingdom.  It  was  stated  by  Joseph  Smith,  Jr.,  that 
it  was  necessary  that  this  Band  should  be  bound  to- 
gether, by  a  covenant,  that  those  who  revealed  the 
secrets  of  the  society  should  be  put  to  death/ ^ 

Mr.  John  Corrill,  who  had  been  a  prominent 
Bishop  of  the  Church  but  left  it  soon  after  these 
iniquities  became  known,  wrote  a  book  in  which 
he  gave  his  reasons  for  renouncing  Mormonism. 
He  testified  as  follows : 

'*I  was  afterwards  invited  to  one  of  these  meet- 
ings, where  an  oath,  in  substance  the  same  as  testi- 
fied by  Dr.  Avard,  was  administered.    ...    At  a 


MISSOUEI'S  DEFENSE  166 

second  or  last  meeting  I  attended,  the  Presidency, 
(to-wit:  Joseph  Smith,  Jr.,  Hyrum  Smith  and  Sid- 
ney Rigdon,)  and  also  George  W.  Robinson  was 
there.  There  was  at  this  meeting  a  ceremony  of  in- 
troducing the  officers  of  the  Society  to  the  Presi- 
dency, who  pronounced  blessings  on  each  of  them. 
.  .  .  Joseph  Smith,  Jr.,  said,  if  the  people  would 
let  us  alone,  we  would  preach  the  gospel  to  them  in 
peace,  but  if  they  come  on  us  to  molest  us,  we  would 
establish  our  religion  by  the  sword,  and  that  he 
would  become  to  this  generation  a  second  Mahomet. '  * 

Mr.  W.  W.  Phelps,  a  prominent  Mormon  but 
who  was  now  numbered  with  the  dissenters, 
testified,  in  part,  as  follows : 

**I  heard  D.  W.  Patton,  say  that  Rigdon  was  writ- 
ing a  declaration  to  declare  the  Church  independent. 
I  remarked  to  him  I  thought  such  a  thing  treason- 
able— to  set  up  a  Government  within  a  Government 
.  .  .  I  was  invited  to  a  school  house  where  I  was 
admitted.  The  men  being  paraded  before  the  door 
when  I  arrived  in  number  40  or  50.  It  was  re- 
marked that  these  were  true  men  ...  a  guard 
was  placed  around  the  house  .  .  .  Mr.  Rigdon 
then  commenced  making  covenants  with  uplifted 
hands.  The  first  was  that  if  any  man  attempted  to 
move  out  of  the  County  or  pack  things  for  that  pur- 
pose, that  any  man  in  the  house,  seeing  this  without 
saying  anything  to  any  other  person,  should  kill 
him  and  haul  him  aside  into  the  brush  and  that  all 
the  burial  he  should  have  should  be  in  a  Turkey 
Buzzard's  guts.'' 


166    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

This  Mr.  Phelps,  after  a  few  years,  returned 
to  the  Church  at  Nauvoo,  was  duly  j)ardoned 
and  later  went  to  Utah  where,  it  is  said,  he 
played  the  part  of  the  "  Devil "  in  the  secret 
endowment  house  ceremonies.  Mr.  G.  M. 
Hinlde,  Reed  Peck  and  others  gave  corroborat- 
ing testimony  in  connection  with  the  above. 

After  Joseph  Smith  and  others  had  been  ap- 
prehended and  placed  in  jail  awaiting  trial,  he 
denounced  those  who  had  testified  against  him 
and  revealed  the  secrets  of  this  band,  as  fol- 
lows: 

**In  fine  we  have  waded  through  an  ocean  of  trib- 
ulation and  mean  abuse  practiced  upon  us  by  the  ill- 
bred  and  the  ignorant,  such  as  Hinkle,  Corrill, 
Phelps,  Avard,  Reed  Peck,  Cleminson  and  various 
others,  who  are  so  very  ignorant,  that  they  cannot 
appear  respectable  in  any  decent  civilized  society, 
and  whose  eyes  are  full  of  adultery  and  cannot 
cease  from  sin.  Such  characters  as  McLellin,  John 
Whitmer,  D.  Whitmer,  0.  Cowdery  and  Martin 
Harris  are  too  mean  to  mention  and  we  had  liked  to 
have  forgotten  them.  Marsh  and  another  whose 
hearts  are  full  of  corruption  .  .  .  Therefore,  we 
say  unto  you,  dear  brethren  in  the  Name  of  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  we  deliver  these  characters  unto  the 
buffetings  of  Satan,  until  the  day  of  redemption, 
that  they  may  be  dealt  with  according  to  their 
works. ' ' ' 

*  Millennial  Star,  Vol.  i6,  pp.  626,  628. 


MISSOUErS  DEFENSE  167 

It  will  be  noticed  that  among  these  men  whom 
the  Prophet  condemns  so  bitterly  are  the  ones 
who  had  figured  so  prominently  in  the  whole 
scheme  of  Mormonism.  Here  are  the  names  of 
the  famous  "  three  witnesses  "  to  the  "  Book  of 
Mormon/'  also  Bishops  and  Apostles.  These 
men  had  given  away  the  secrets  that  brought 
about  the  charge  of  "  high  treason." 

In  this  same  connection  we  quote  from  a 

Note.— Justus  Morse,  who  had  been  a  member  of  the 
Mormon  Church  under  the  first  Prophet  and  later  was 
identified  with  the  Reorgani;^ed  Church,  holding  the  office 
of  High  Priest,  testified  in  March,  1887,  in  part  as  follows: 

"In  the  year  1838,  at  Far  West,  Caldwell  County,  Mo., 
I  was  made  a  Danite,  in  an  organized  meeting  for  that 
purpose  in  a  schoolhouse  at  that  place.  Brother  Dr.  Samp- 
son Avard  had  charge  in  organizing  this  band,  divided  into 
tens,  fifties,  and  hundreds — Joseph  Smith,  Sydney  Rigdon 
and  Hyrum  Smith  were  present  frequently  at  our  meetings 
and  were  cognizant  of  what  was  going  on,  being  present 
at  our  secret  meetings  ...  in  a  deep  ravine  in  the 
year  1838,  aforesaid,  and  with  a  guard  around  us  on  the 
high  ground  to  prevent  interruption  or  being  heard,  was 
there  taught  and  instructed  by  Joseph  Smith,  Sidney  Rig- 
don and  Hyrum  Smith,  that  the  Church  could  not  advance 
without  means,  and  we  must  obtain,  must  get  money  and 
means  to  carry  on  the  work  whether  right  or  wrong, 
honest  or  dishonest — that  the  Church  should  '  suck  the  milk 
of  the  Gentiles,'  that  we  had  been  injured  by  the  mob  in 
Missouri,  and  to  take  from  the  Gentiles  was  no  sin.    .    .    . 

In  the  year  1841  Danite  brethren  came  to  my  house  in 
McDonough  County,  Illinois,  and  asked  me  to  secrete  goods 
which  they  had  taken  from  a  store.  ...  I  still  believe 
that  Joseph  Smith  was  called  of  God."  (Quoted  from 
"  The  True  Origin  of  Mormon  Polygamy,"  by  Shook,  pp. 
168-171.) 

This  proves  the  existence  of  the  Danite  band ;  its  author- 
ization by  the  Prophet  and  his  colleagues;  its  purpose  and 
criminal  character;  its  continued  existence  after  the  Mis- 
souri experiences — by  a  man  who  still  retains  his  faith  in 
Smith  as  a  Prophet. 


168    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

document  signed  by  eighty-tliree  Mormons  at 
Far  West,  June,  1838,  addressed  to  Oliver 
Cowdery,  David  Whitmer,  Jolin  Whitmer, 
William  W.  Phelps,  and  Lyman  E.  Johnson. 
It  reads : 

''Out  of  the  county  you  shall  go,  and  no  power 
shall  save  you.  And  you  shall  have  three  days  after 
you  receive  this  communication  .  .  .  But  in  that 
time  if  you  do  not  depart,  we  will  use  the  means  in 
our  own  power  to  cause  you  to  depart;  for  go  you 
shall. 

.  .  .  Vengeance  sleepeth  not,  neither  does  it 
slumber,  and  unless  you  heed  us  this  time,  and  at- 
tend to  our  request,  it  will  overtake  you  as  a  Lion 
when  you  do  not  expect  .  .  .  After  Oliver  Cow- 
dery  had  been  taken  by  a  State  Warrant  for  stealing, 
and  the  stolen  property  was  found  in  the  house  of 
W.  W.  Phelps;  in  which  nefarious  transaction  John 
Whitmer  also  participated.  .  .  .  We  will  give 
an  epitome  of  your  scandalous  conduct  and  treach- 
ery for  the  last  two  years.  We  wish  to  remind  you 
that  Oliver  Cowdery  and  David  Whitmer  were 
among  the  principal  of  those  who  were  the  means  of 
gathering  us  to  this  place  by  their  testimony  which 
they  gave  concerning  the  plates  of  the  'Book  of 
Mormon ; '  that  they  were  shown  them  by  an  Angel, 
which  testimony  we  believe  now,  as  much  as  before 
you  had  so  scandalously  disgraced  it     .     .     . 

Oliver  Cowdery,  David  Whitmer  and  Lyman  B. 
Johnson,  united  with  a  gang  of  counterfeiters, 
thieves,  liars,  and  black  legs  of  the  deepest  dye,  to 


MISSOUEI'S  DEFENSE  169 

deceive,  cheat,  and  defraud  the  Saints  .  .  . 
During  the  full  career  of  Oliver  Cowdery  and  David 
Whitmer's  bogus  money  business  it  got  abroad  in 
the  world  that  they  were  engaged  in  it  and  several 
gentlemen  were  preparing  to  commence  a  prosecu- 
tion against  Cowdery,  he  finding  it  out  took  with  him 
Lyman  E.  Johnson,  and  fled  to  Far  West  with  their 
families ;  Cowdery  stealing  property  and  bringing  it 
with  him." 

The  Mormons  had  made  many  charges  against 
the  Missourians,  so  the  Missourians  were  an- 
swering by  publishing  the  charges  which  the 
Mormons  had  made  against  each  other.  If  it 
was  wrong  for  the  Missourians  to  drive  out  the 
Mormons  from  their  State,  because  of  their 
treacherous  conduct,  how  about  the  justice 
manifest  by  the  Mormons  in  driving  out  their 
own  people? 

Here  are  charges  that  these  Mormons  were 
guilty  of  statutory  crimes ;  stealing  and  counter- 
feiting. Mr.  David  Whitmer  wrote  a  booklet  in 
1887,  in  which  he  recounts  the  bitter  experience 
of  being  driven  out  of  Far  West,  in  June,  1838.* 
He  tells  of  the  secret  formation  of  the  band  of 
Danites,  Dr.  Avard  being  put  in  as  leader.  All 
Mormon  men  refusing  to  be  bound  by  its  oaths 
were  considered  dissenters.  His  persecutions, 
he  says,  were  because  of  his  efforts  to  persuade 
his  brethren  that  they  were  doing  wrong.     ;Not 

*An  address  to  all  believers  in  Christ. 


170    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

only  were  the  Mormons  thus  complaining  of 
treatment  meted  out  to  them  by  Mormons,  but 
the  i)eople  of  the  State  were  making  frantic  ap- 
peals to  the  Governor  for  protection  from  these 
people.     Note  the  following : 

**I,  Philip  Covington,  an  acting  Justice  of  the 
peace  within  and  for  said  County,  (Daviess)  do  cer- 
tify that  on  the  13th  ins't,  one  hundred  or  more 
Mormons  marched  to  Gallatin  and  drove  the  citizens 
from  the  said  place,  then  robbed  the  store  and  Post 
Office,  and  burned  said  store  and  office.  On  the  20th, 
of  this  instant,  twenty-five  armed  Mormons  came  to 
my  house,  and  gave  me  orders  to  leave  the  county 
against  the  next  morning,  or  they  would  be  upon  me 
and  my  family. 

Myself  with  other  citizens  have  left  the  county. 
They  are  now  robbing  and  burning  the  dwellings  of 
defenseless  citizens.  Given  under  my  hand  this  22nd 
day  of  September,  1838." 

In  an  old  Mormon  paper  published  at  Far 
West  about  this  time,  Joseph  Smith,  the  editor, 
came  out  with  the  following  threat : 

'*We  are  absolutely  determined  no  longer  to  bear, 
come  life  or  come  death,  for  to  be  mobbed  any  more 
without  taking  vengeance  we  will  not. '  * ' 

In  his  revelations  Smith  had  taught,  after  an 
enemy  should  come  upon  you  for  three  times, 

'  The  Blders'  Journal,  Far  West,  August,  1838. 


MISSOUEI'S  DEFENSE  171 

then  lie  is  delivered  into  your  hands,  and  "If 
thou  reward  him  according  to  his  works,  thou 
art  justified."'  In  this  way  the  people  could 
take  the  justice  of  their  cause  in  their  own 
hands  and  mete  out  treatment  in  any  manner 
they  might  elect.  Another  citizen,  Mr.  Adam 
Black,  testified : 

**0n  the  19th,  they  (Mormons)  marched  through 
the  County  and  drove  a  number  of  citizens  from  the 
County  and  robbed  their  houses  and  burned  them. 
My  house  was  amongst  the  rest ;  about  twelve  o^cloek 
the  same  night  they  were  seen  burning  down  five 
houses  in  Gallatin,  the  County  Seat  of  Daviess 
County. 

.  .  .  There  is  not  a  single  officer  left  in  said 
County  to  execute  the  laws  of  our  land ;  and  in  be- 
half of  the  citizens  of  said  County  and  in  my  own 
behalf  I  ask  the  executive  of  the  State  to  be  rein- 
stated in  our  homes,  and  the  necessary  and  legal 
steps  be  taken  to  recover  our  property  and  bring  the 
offenders  to  justice. '^ 

In  the  History  of  the  Mormons,  as  written 
by  themselves,  there  is  abundant  evidence  to 
show  that  these  armed  bands  who  were  going 
about  the  country  threatening  the  Missourians, 

Note.— It  is  very  common  throughout  Mormon  history  to 
find  the  word  "mob"  applied  to  any  persons  who  were  in 
the  least  disagreement  with  the  Mormons. 

'"Doctrine  and  Covenants,"  (R),  95:5. 


172    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

etc.,  were  accompanied  by  Smith,  and  Avard, 
and  other  Mormons  of  prominence/ 

After  the  trouble  had  finally  come  to  an  issue 
and  the  truth  was  known,  an  effort  was  made  to 
cast  the  burden  of  the  sin  of  the  Danites  upon 
others  than  the  Church  leaders.  In  the  History 
of  the  Keorganized  Church  may  be  found  the 
following : 

**It  was  some  time  before  this  that  the  order 
known  as  the  Danites  was  organized.  This,  as  will 
be  seen,  was  not  done  with  the  knowledge  of  the 
Church  authorities,  nor  by  their  order. 

It  was  a  secret  organization  which  was  severely 
condemned  by  the  leaders  of  the  Church  as  soon  as 
it  became  known  to  them.  The  chief  instigator  was 
not  only  reprimanded  but  he  was  expelled  from  the 
Church,  and  it  was  supposed  the  movement  was  ef- 
fectually killed ;  but  it  was  in  after  years  revived  by 
wicked  and  evil  designing  men  and  has  since  been 
the  cause  of  much  evil."* 

An  effort  was  made  by  Smith  to  lay  the  blame 
wholly  upon  Dr.  Sampson  Avard.  From  the 
jail  in  Missouri  he  wrote  as  follows : 

' '  We  further  caution  our  brethren  against  the  im- 
propriety of  the  organization  of  bands,  or  companies 
by  covenants,  oaths,  penalties  or  secrecies,  but  let 

'  Millennial   Star,   Vol.    i6,   p.    246.     "  Church   History," 
(R),  2:185-190. 
""Church  History,"   (R),  2:219. 


MISSOUEI'S  DEFE:t^SE  178 

the  time  past  of  our  experience  and  suffering  by  the 
wickedness  of  Dr.  Avard  suffice    .     .    . 

You  humble  servants  intend  from  henceforth  to 
disapprobate  everything  that  is  not  in  accordance 
with  the  f ulhiess  of  the  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ. ' ' " 

He  further  says : 

**When  the  knowledge  of  Avard 's  rascality  came 
to  the  Presidency  of  the  Church,  he  was  cut  off  from 
the  Church  and  every  means  proper  was  used  to 
destroy  his  influence  ...  let  it  be  distinctly 
understood  that  these  companies  of  tens,  and  fifties, 
got  up  by  Avard,  were  altogether  separate  and  dis- 
tinct from  those  companies  of  tens  and  fifties  or- 
ganized by  the  brethren  for  self  defense  .  .  . 
Therefore  let  no  one  hereafter  by  mistake  or  design, 
confound  this  organization  of  the  Church  for  good 
and  righteous  purposes  with  the  organization  of  the 
Danites,  of  the  apostate  Avard,  which  died  almost 
before  it  had  existence. ' ' " 

These  statements  are  very  misleading.  They 
are  an  apology  on  the  part  of  the  very  person 
guilty.  Dr.  Avard  was  expelled  from  the 
Church,  but  when?  It  was  March  17,  1839, 
several  months  after  these  troubles  had  oc- 
curred and  when  most  of  the  Mormons  had  re- 
moved from  the  State."  This  organization  did 
not  die,  as  asserted,  but  continued  at  Nauvoo 
and    later    perpetrated    the    awful    Mountain 

*•"  Church  History,"  (R),  2:324-325. 

"  Ibid.,  pp.  222-223.  "  ^^»'^v  p.  359* 


174    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

Meadows  Massacre."  If  there  was  an  organiza- 
tion apart  from  that  of  Avard^s  band,  it  is 
strange  that  it  did  not  survive.  It  is  also 
strange  that  companies  of  "tens  and  fifties" 
could  have  been  recruited  out  of  the  Mormon 
ranks  without  the  knowledge  of  the  Church 
leaders.  These  assertions  are  all  in  direct  con- 
flict with  the  testimony  quoted,  as  given  before 
the  court  by  leading  Mormons,  which  shows  that 
the  whole  matter  was  known  and  fostered  by 
the  Church  and  its  leaders. 

But  to  return  to  consideration  of  things  in 
Missouri.  The  Governor  answered  the  appeal 
of  the  people  for  protection,  by  ordering  a  com- 
pany of  militia  under  Captain  S.  Bogart,  to 
range  the  line  between  Caldwell  and  Eay  Coun- 
ties to  prevent  invasions  by  persons  in  arms. 
As  his  company  was  encamped  on  the  banks  of 
Crooked  Kiver,  they  were  attacked  by  the  Mor- 
mons under  command  of  Captain  Patten.  A 
few  men  were  wounded  and  killed  on  either 
side.  However,  that  was  not  the  significant 
thing;  the  fact  that  the  Mormons  were  in  open 
rebellion  to  the  military  forces  of  the  State 
moved  the  Governor  to  drastic  action.  On 
October  27,  1838,  he  issued  the  famous  order  of 
extermination,  in  which  he  said,  "  The  Mormons 
must  be  treated  as  enemies,  and  must  be  ex- 
terminated or  driven  from  the  State  if  necessary 
"  **  3tQry  of  the  Mormons,"  by  I<inn,  chap,  i6. 


MISSOUEI'S  DEFENSE  175 

for  the  public  peace — their  outrages  are  beyond 
all  description/' '' 

Shortly  after  these  events  the  military  forces 
of  the  State  surrounded  the  Mormons  at  Far 
AVest  and  Joseph  and  Hyrum  Smith,  and  others 
of  the  leaders  were  delivered  up  and  incarcer- 
ated in  jail  to  await  trial  and  action  of  the  law. 
Then  began  the  exodus  of  the  Mormon  colony 
from  the  State,  and  crossing  the  Mississippi 
they  settled  in  Illinois.  Afterward,  all  the 
Mormon  prisoners  succeeded  in  making  their 
escape. 

To  exterminate  a  people  or  drive  them  from 
the  State  seemed  a  cruel  thing  to  do.  But  the 
threat  came  first  from  the  Mormons.  Sidney 
Rigdon,  who  was  appointed  to  be  a  "  spokes- 
man '^ "  for  the  people  and  for  Smith,  declared 
in  his  Fourth  of  July  oration  at  Far  West,  July, 
1838,  "  It  shall  be  between  us  and  them  a  war 
of  extermination,  for  we  will  follow  them  till 
the  last  drip  of  their  blood  is  spilled  or  else 
they  will  have  to  exterminate  us."  " 

After  this  speech  Joseph  Smith,  who  sat  on 
the  platform  with  Rigdon,  led  off  with  a  shout 
of  "  Hosanna  and  Amen."  In  a  Mormon  paper 
published  there  we  note  in  the  arrangements 
for  the  day  the  following : 


"  Quoted  in  full  by  Linn,  p.  205. 
""Doctrine  and  Covenants,"  (R),  97:3. 
""Church  History,"  (R),  2:165. 


176    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MORMONISM 

*' Fourth.  That  Jared  Carter,  Sampson  Avard, 
and  Cornelius  P.  Lott  act  as  Generals,  before  whom 
the  Military  band  shall  pass  in  review.*' " 

So  it  appears  that  Mr.  Avard  was  in  fiill 
fellowship  and  accord  with  the  Mormon  people 
at  the  time  and  it  is  difdcult  to  believe  that  he 
ever  was  out  of  harmony  with  the  leaders,  not- 
withstanding the  assertion  to  that  effect. 

General  Clark,  after  the  Mormons  had  been 
quelled  by  military  force  at  Far  West,  made  an 
address  to  them,  in  part  as  follows : 

**I  am  sorry,  gentlemen,  to  see  so  many  apparently 
intelligent  men  found  in  the  situation  you  are;  and 
0!  if  I  could  invoke  the  great  spirit,  the  unknown 
God,  to  rest  upon  and  deliver  you  from  that  awful 
chain  of  superstition,  and  liberate  you  from  those 
fetters  of  fanaticism  with  which  you  are  bound  that 
you  no  longer  do  homage  to  a  man. 

I  would  advise  you  to  scatter  abroad  and  never 
organize  yourselves  with  Bishops,  Presidents,  etc., 
lest  you  excite  the  jealousies  of  the  people,  and  sub- 
ject yourselves  to  the  same  calamities  that  have  now 
come  upon  you.  You  have  always  been  the  aggres- 
sors: you  have  brought  upon  yourselves  these  diffi- 
culties by  being  disaffected,  and  not  bemg  subject 
to  rule. 

And  my  advice  is  that  you  become  as  other  citi- 
zens, lest  by  a  reoccurrence  of  these  events  you  bring 
upon  yourselves  irretrievable  ruin. ' '  " 

"  The  Elders*  Journal,  Vol.  i,  No.  4,  p.  60,  published  1838. 
""The  Story  of  the  Mormons,"  by  linn,  pp.  209-210. 


MISSOURI'S  DEFENSE  177 

From  this  it  would  appear  that  the  Mis- 
sourians  were  not  willing  opponents  of  the  Mor- 
mons. The  Missourians  were  on  the  ground 
jSrst.  It  was  their  home.  Its  interests  were 
sacred  to  them.  The  Mormons  were  newcomers. 
Had  they  chosen  to  live  in  i)eace  and  obey  the 
laws  there  would  have  been  no  trouble  for  them. 
Many  Mormons  are  living  in  that  State  now 
enjoying  all  the  privileges  of  citizens.  Had  it 
not  been  for  their  fanatical  ideas,  the  blunder- 
ing wickedness  and  ignorance  of  their  leaders, 
it  is  highly  improbable  that  the  people  of  Mis- 
souri would  ever  have  persecuted  them,  or  have 
driven  them  from  the  State. 

Thus  it  appears  that  the  Mormons  would 
never  have  been  driven  from  the  first  settlement 
at  Independence,  Missouri,  in  1833,  had  they 
been  willing  to  settle  down  and  enjoy  the  com- 
mon life  with  other  citizens.  The  following 
is  part  of  a  statement  expressing  the  sentiment 
of  the  peoj^le  regarding  the  Mormons  who  were 
coming  to  settle  at  Independence.     It  reads : 

'*We  are  daily  told,  and  not  by  the  ignorant  alone, 
but  by  all  classes  of  them,  that  we  (The  Gentiles)  of 


Note. — Interest  in  the  history  of  the  Mormons  in  Missouri 
in  these  early  days  is  indicated  by  recent  articles  in  The 
Missouri  Historical  Review  for  January,  1919  ff.  Here  Mr. 
R.  J.  Britton  writes  on,  "  Early  Days  on  Grand  River  and  the 
Mormon  War."  Prof.  E.  W  Violette  in  his  late  (1918) 
"History  of  Missouri,"  devotes  an  illustrated  chapter  to  a 
similar  subject. 


178    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MORMONISM 

this  County  are  to  be  cut  off,  and  our  lands  appro- 
priated by  them  for  inheritances.  Whether  this  is 
to  be  accomplished  by  the  hand  of  the  destroying 
Angel,  the  judgments  of  God,  or  the  arm  of  power, 
they  are  not  fully  agreed  among  themselves.*' " 

It  would  be  almost  impossible  for  the  citizens 
to  live  in  peace  with  a  band  of  religious  fanatics 
harboring  such  ideas. 

And  in  the  second  instance,  it  would  be  im- 
possible for  the  citizens  at  Far  West  and  vicin- 
ity to  tolerate  the  existence  of  a  people  having 
a  secret  band,  committed  to  depredations  upon 
them  and  the  assassination  of  apostates  from 
the  Church.  For  drawing  the  sword  in  Mis- 
souri, the  Mormons  were  ousted  from  the  State. 

"Millennial  Star,  Vol.  14,  p.  488. 


XI 

GATHERING  TO  ZION 

THE  belief  "  That  Zion  will  be  built  upon 
this  Continent'^  is  one  leading  prin- 
ciple of  Mormonism  that  has  been  the 
chief  cause  of  the  movements  of  the  Church  to 
several  locations. 

The  place  designated  in  the  revelations  of 
Joseph  Smith,  as  the  central  gathering  place,  is 
Independence,  Jackson  County,  Missouri.  He 
declared,  "  Wherefore  this  is  the  land  of  prom- 
ise, and  the  place  for  the  city  of  Zion." ' 

The  idea  of  gathering  has  always  met  with  a 
ready  acceptance  on  the  part  of  the  Mormons. 
In  the  nmnerous  attempts  to  gather  and  estab- 
lish Zion  they  have  made  tremendous  sacrifices, 
even  forsaking  relatives,  friends,  and  earthly 
possessions  in  order  to  carry  out  plans  offered 
to  them  as  the  will  of  the  Lord.  So  many  pas- 
sages of  Scripture  refer  to  "  Zion,"  the  term  be- 
ing so  familiar  and  so  closely  associated  with 
deep  religious  sentiment,  it  has  been  practically 
*"  Doctrine  and  Covenants,"  (R),  sec.  57. 
179 


180    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

easy  to  inculcate  the  idea  in  the  minds  of  all 
Mormons. 

Because  of  the  social  unrest,  occasioned  by 
the  many  industrial  problems,  the  great  moral 
issues  and  political  dissatisfactions,  the  in- 
equalities in  the  distribution  of  wealth  and  posi- 
tion, it  has  not  been  difficult  to  convince  minds 
open  to  such  conviction  that  there  should  be 
some  effective  solution  to  our  many  modern 
problems.  Believing  implicitly  in  the  revela- 
tions of  the  Prophet,  the  people  were  willing  to 
submit  to  his  leadership,  hoping  thereby  to  re- 
ceive the  promised  inheritance,  when  all  those 
good  things  promised  in  ancient  and  modern 
revelation  might  come  to  them. 

The  utter  failure  that  has  followed  each  at- 
tempt on  the  part  of  Smith,  to  establish  Zion,  is 
an  outstanding  fact  that  reflects  seriously  upon 
his  revelations  and  his  worthiness  as  a  religious 
leader. 

The  fundamental  reason  for  the  gathering 
was  based  upon  the  idea  that  the  world  is 
"ripening  in  iniquity";  that  the  wicked,  all 
except  the  Mormons,  are  awaiting  destruction. 

,  **It  shall  come  to  pass,  among  the  wicked,  that 
/  every  man  that  will  not  take  his  sword  against  his 
J     neighbor,  must  needs  flee  unto  Zion  for  safety." ' 

Those  passages  of  Scripture  that  tell  of  the 

*"  Doctrine  and  Covenants,"  (R),  sec.  45. 


GATHERING  TO  ZION  181 

deliverance  of  the  righteous  and  the  destruction 
of  the  wicked  were  freely  quoted  in  this  connec- 
tion. The  Lord  was  not  to  "spare  any  that 
remaineth  in  Babylon,"  meaning  the  Gentiles, 
or  all  non-Mormons.  Smith  interpreted  the 
parable  of  the  " Treasure  hid  in  a  field"  as 
follows : 

*^See  the  Church  of  the  Latter  Day  Saints,  selling 
all  that  they  have,  and  gathering  themselves  to- 
gether unto  a  place  that  they  may  purchase  for  an 
inheritance,  that  they  may  be  together  and  bear  each 
others'  afflictions  in  the  day  of  calamity."  ^ 

People  were  much  influenced  by  such  inter- 
petations  and  revelations  and  sold  out  their 
property,  and  in  accordance  with  the  revelation 
began  to  gather  out  of  the  "  eastern  countries  " 
to  journey  to  the  "  western  countries,"  to  Zion, 
where  "a  feast  of  fat  things,  of  wine  on  the 
lees  well  refined "  was  prepared,  "  That  the 
earth  might  know  that  the  mouths  of  the  Proph- 
ets shall  not  fail."  * 

There  being  no  degree  of  fellowship  between 
the  Mormons  and  the  people  of  Missouri,  it  soon 
began  to  appear  that  they  could  not  long  sur- 
vive in  close  proximity  with  them.  Finally, 
hostilities  broke  out  in  the  autumn  of  the  year 
1833.    Many  acts  of  cruelty  were  committed  on 

^Millennial  Star,  Vol.  15,  p.  447- 

*"  Doctrine  and  Covenants,"  (R),  sec  58. 


182    THE  FOUNDATIOKS  OF  MORMONISM 

both  sides.  The  Mormons  felt  that  they  were 
justified  in  defending  themselves  and  the  Mis- 
sourians  felt  that  they  must  take  harsh  steps 
to  rid  their  country  of  a  people  who  regarded 
them  as  enemies,  and  as  wicked  people,  even  be- 
fore they  were  acquainted  with  them. 

The  result  was  that  the  Mormons  hastily 
gathered  up  their  effects  and  crossed  the  Mis- 
souri Eiver  into  Clay  County. 

Thus,  Zion  met  with  a  complete  defeat  that 
was  most  distressing.  Smith,  apparently,  was 
much  puzzled  for  a  time,  but  soon  made  him- 
self bold  to  give  a  revelation  in  which  he  de- 
clared, "  Zion  shall  not  be  moved  out  of  her 
place.""  He  further  declared  that  the  Lord 
"  would  let  fall  the  sword  of  mine  indignation  in 
behalf  of  my  people  " ;  that  the  people  "  shall 
return  and  come  to  their  inheritances." 

As  a  result  of  these  and  other  revelations, 
Smith  formed  the  army,  as  mentioned  before,  at 
Kirtland,  Ohio,  where  he  was  at  this  time,  and 
placing  himself  at  its  head  marched  to  Missouri 
with  a  view  to  restoring  his  people  in  Jackson 
County,  whither  they  had  been  expelled. 

His  revelation  instructed  them,  in  part,  as 
follows : 

''Therefore  get  ye  straightway  into  my  land; 
break  down  the  walls  of  mine  enemies,  throw  down 
•"Doctrine  and  Covenants,"  (R),  sec.  98. 


GATHERING  TO  ZION  183 

their  tower,  and  scatter  their  watchmen;  and  inas- 
much as  they  gather  together  against  you,  avenge 
me  of  mine  enemies."' 

This  was  the  first  attempt  on  the  part  of  the 
Mormons  to  raise  and  command  an  army. 
Under  the  assumed  name  of  "Baurak  Ale" 
Joseph  Smith  stood  at  its  head  as  the  "  Gen- 
eral." ' 

Finally  the  army  disbanded  and  the  whole 
venture  ended  in  a  complete  defeat.'  All  the 
promises  of  restoration  upon  the  chosen  land 
failed  miserably.  The  "  enemies  "  were  left  in 
possession.  This  is  not  a  very  pleasing  topic 
of  conversation  for  the  Mormon  of  to-day.  The 
Church  History  published  by  the  Eeorganized 
Church  says : 

**What  was  accomplished  by  all  this  sacrifice? 
Impossible  to  tell.  Such  questions  mortals  cannot 
decide."- 

It  is  a  wonder  that  the  Mormons  would  con- 
tinue to  believe  in  a  Prophet  whose  predictions 
and  commands  had  failed  so  utterly.  Some  of 
them  did  become  weak  in  the  faith.  Smith  al- 
ways had  recourse  to  the  conditions  of  his 
revelations :  viz.,  "  If  ye  are  faithful,"  "  If  ye 
keep  my  commandments,"  etc.,  and  could  al- 
ways be  safe  in  pointing  to  the  wealoiess  of  his 

•"Doctrine  and  Covenants,"  (R),  sec.  100. 
'"Church  History,"  (R),  1:462  ff. 
•  Ibid.,  1 :  484  ff. 
•/6tU,  p.  487  ff. 


184    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

people  as  the  excuse  for  tlie  non-fulfillment  of 
his  revelations."  Notwithstanding  the  complete 
defeat  of  this  first  venture  at  gathering  to  Zion, 
the  hope  persisted  for  many  years  that  the  Mor- 
mons would  eventually  return  there.  Even 
after  the  Mormons  were  well  established  in  Utah 
one  of  the  leaders  declared : 

*^You  will  see  the  day  when  Presidents  Young, 
Kimball,  and  Wells,  and  the  twelve  apostles  will  be 
in  Jackson  County,  Missouri,  laying  out  your  in- 
heritances.   In  the  flesh?    Of  course. 

We  should  look  well  without  being  in  the  flesh! 
We  shall  be  there  in  the  flesh,  and  all  our  enemies 
cannot  prevent  it."" 

It  is  useless  to  note  that  this  prediction  failed. 
The  Utah  Mormons  seem  to  have  forgotten 
about  the  revelations  that  pointed  out  Missouri 
as  the  Mormon  Zion.  Since  they  live  in  the 
midst  of  the  Mountains,  they  have  put  forth  the 
idea  that  it  was  predicted  by  Isaiah,"  that  "  The 
Mountain  of  the  Lord's  House "  was  to  be 
established  out  there;  that  they  are  living  in 
the  Zion  out  from  which  is  to  go  forth  the  law, 
etc. 

Note. — In  a  recent  statement  by  a  Mormon  authority,  the 
limits  of  "zion"  are  enlarged  to  inchide  the  whole  of 
America.  Article  "  Mormons  in  the  War,"  Literary  Digest, 
July  27,  1918. 

""Doctrine  and  Covenants,"  (R),  sec.  102. 
""Brighamism  Exposed,"  (R),  p.  164. 
"  Isa.  2 : 1-3. 


GATHERING  TO  ZION  185 

The  members  of  the  Eeorganized  Church  have 
been  reviving  interest  in  the  old  revelations, 
although  they  surely  do  not  understand  their 
historical  basis  and  have  been  steadily  gather- 
ing out  of  other  States  into  Missouri.  They 
have  been  cautioned  to  do  this  with  care,  re- 
garding the  feelings  of  the  people  residing  there. 
These  members,  as  a  rule,  are  law-abiding  and 
respectful  of  the  rights  and  privileges  of  others. 
What  the  effect  will  be  if  large  numbers  shall 
gather  there;  what  complications  may  arise, 
politically  and  otherwise,  no  one  can  tell. 

The  remnants  of  the  Army  which  disbanded 
in  Clay  County  returned  to  Kirtland,  Ohio. 
Some  remained  with  the  Mormon  brethren  and 
with  them  found  shelter  and  hospitality  among 
the  citizens  of  the  County,  who  believed  that 
they  had  been  dealt  with  unjustly  by  the  people 
of  Jackson  County. 

However,  after  a  short  time  they  began  to 
change  their  minds  and  called  a  public  meeting 
and  asked  the  Mormons  to  move  on  as  soon  as 
possible. 

This  resulted  in  the  Mormons  settling  in  the 
County  of  Caldwell  and  vicinity.  Here  at  a 
place  called  Far  West,  they  began  to  build  a 
city,  and  on  July  4, 1837,  it  was  estimated  that 
more  than  fifteen  hundred  Mormons  had  gath- 
ered there. 

Here    was    another    opportunity    for    the 


186    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

Prophet  to  test  out  his  predictive  powers.  Of 
the  prospects  for  the  gathering  to  another  Zion, 
he  says : 

*'Be  it  known  to  the  Saints  scattered  abroad 
Greeting:  That  myself,  together  with  my  beloved 
brother,  Sidney  Rigdon,  have  been  appointed  by  a 
general  conference  of  Elders,  held  in  Kirtland,  in 
the  House  of  the  Lord,  on  the  18th  of  September,  for 
the  purpose  of  establishing  places  of  gathering  for 
the  Saints    .     .     . 

Who  are  gathering  for  a  refuge  and  safety  in  the 
day  of  the  wrath  of  God,  which  is  soon  to  burst  upon 
the  head  of  this  generation,  according  to  the  testi- 
mony of  the  prophets ; 

.  .  .  Now  we  would  recommend  to  the  Saints 
scattered  abroad  to  make  all  possible  exertions, to 
gather  ...  as  peace,  Verily,  thus  saith  the 
Lord,  peace  shall  be  taken  from  the  earth  and  it  has 
already  begun  to  be  taken    .    .    . 

Therefore  make  haste  saith  the  Lord,  0  ye  my 
people,  and  gather  yourselves  together."" 

Again  he  says : 

*'Our  hearts  are  made  glad  with  the  pleasing  in- 
telligence of  the  gathering  of  the  Saints  from  all 
parts  of  the  earth  to  this  place,  to  avoid  the  destruc- 
tions which  are  coming  upon  this  generation/' " 

So  the  faithful,   believing  people  accepted 

^^  Elders'  Journal,  November,  1837,  pp.  27-28. 
"Millennial  Star,  Vol.  16,  p.  150. 


GATHERING  TO  ZION  187 

this  doubly  assured  message  and  began  to  as- 
semble from  far  and  near.  The  Elders  went 
out  to  preach  and  as  fast  as  converts  were  made 
they  were  admonished  to  flee  to  Zion  to  escape 
the  fate  of  those  to  be  found  outside.  Did  not 
all  outside  the  Ark  perish?  What  then  will  be- 
come of  those  in  Babylon?  Make  haste !  Flee ! 
This  was  the  word  and  it  was  heeded.  Many 
who  journeyed  there  died  by  the  way  of  expo- 
sure and  endured  much  suffering  besides  the 
breaking  up  of  their  homes  and  the  loss  of 
property. 

What  was  the  result  of  all  this  sacrifice? 
The  people  found  another  bitter  disappoint- 
ment. They  found  anything  other  than  a  place 
of  "  refuge  and  safety  '^ ;  the  destructions  they 
sought  to  avoid  never  came ;  the  wrath  of  God 
did  not  burst  upon  the  heads  of  "  this  genera- 
tion." The  Mormons  so  conducted  themselves 
that  the  Governor  of  the  State  issued  an  order 
expelling  them  from  the  State  October  27, 1838. 
The  leaders  of  the  Mormons  went  to  Missouri, 
this  second  time,  with  a  vivid  remembrance  of 
their  late  experience  with  the  Missourians  in 
Jackson  County,  They  were  armed,  and  by 
moving  about  in  armed  bands  caused  alarm  on 
the  part  of  the  people.  It  was  the  Mormons  who 
first  gave  the  threat  of  extermination.  Sidney 
Eigdon,  in  his  Fourth  of  July  oration  at  Far 
West,  declared : 


188    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

''And  that  mob  that  comes  on  us  to  disturb  us  it 
shall  be  between  us  and  them  a  war  of  extermina- 
tion; for  we  will  follow  them  until  the  last  drop  of 
their  blood  is  spilled,  or  else  they  will  have  to  ex- 
terminate us.''" 

Matters  grew  steadily  more  and  more  threat- 
ening; there  were  several  clashes  between  the 
people  and  the  Mormons;  it  became  perfectly 
evident  that  there  conld  be  no  toleration  of  each 
other;  finally  the  Mormons  rushed  out  and  at- 
tacked the  State  Militia ;  then  drastic  measures 
followed,  and  peace  was  no  more  notably  taken 
from  the  earth  than  from  the  midst  of  the  Latter 
Day  Saints.  All  ended  in  confusion,  suffering 
and  disappointment,  in  which  the  innocent  were 
made  victims  with  the  guilty.  The  Mormons 
began  an  exodus  from  the  State,  going  across 
the  Mississippi  Kiver  into  Illinois.  Joseph 
Smith  and  other  leading  Mormons  were  landed 
in  jail  on  State  warrants,  but  in  waiting  for 
trial  were  able  to  escape  and  followed  their 
people  to  Illinois.  At  Far  West  the  Mormons 
had  begun  the  erection  of  a  great  Temple. 
Smith  had  declared  that  Adam,  the  father  of  the 
hmnan  race,  had  dwelt  there.  All  hopes  of 
building  a  Zion  at  that  place  were  ever  after 
abandoned.  What  a  reflection  on  all  the  revela- 
tions and  promises  given  through  the  self-ap- 
pointed Prophet ! 

""Church  History,"  (R),  2:165. 


GATHERING  TO  ZION  189 

Wlien  the  Mormons  arrived  in  Illinois  the 
people  bestowed  upon  them  generous  sympathy 
and  hospitality  and  other  substantial  evidences 
of  their  good  will. 

Most  of  the  Mormons  gathered  in  the  vicinity 
of  Quincy,  but  shortly  a  deal  was  made  for  a 
large  tract  of  land  at  Nauvoo,  a  place  on  the 
Mississippi  Eiver,  beautiful  and  appropriate  for 
the  building  of  a  city.  After  the  recent  episode 
in  Missouri,  the  revelations  which  Smith  often 
received  so  plentifully  became  more  and  more 
scarce.  Several  leading  men  of  the  Church,  in- 
cluding the  "  three  witnesses  "  to  the  "  Book  of 
Mormon,"  had  become  exi^elled;  others  had 
given  uj)  in  disgust.  Smith  denounced  many  of 
his  followers  in  very  bitter  terms  from  the  con- 
fines of  the  jail  where  he  was  awaiting  trial  in 
Missouri." 

Now  that  there  was  another  prospect  for  the 
building  of  Zion  at  Nauvoo,  the  revelations  be- 
gan to  come  again.  On  the  15th  of  January, 
1841,  Joseph  Smith,  Hyrum  Smith  and  Sidney 
Eigdon  addressed  the  following  to  the  Saints : 

**  Having  been  instrumental  in  the  hands  of  our 
heavenly  Father,  in  laying  a  foundation  for  the 
gathering  of  Zion,  we  would  say,  let  all  those  who 
appreciate  the  blessings  of  the  gospel  .  .  .  dis- 
pose of  their  effects  as  fast  as  circumstances  will  pos- 

^'^  Millennial  Star,  Vol,  i6,  pp.  636-628. 


190    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MORMONISM 

sibly  admit,  without  making  too  great  sacrifices  and 
remove  to  our  city  and  county  .  .  .  this  will 
secure  our  permanent  inheritance  and  prepare  the 
way  for  the  gathering  of  the  poor. 

This  is  agreeable  to  the  order  of  heaven  and  the 
only  principle  on  which  the  gathering  can  be  ef- 
fected— let  the  rich  then,  and  all  who  can  assist  in 
establishing  this  place  make  every  preparation  to 
come  on  without  delay  .  .  .  the  Elders  are 
hereby  instructed  to  proclaim  this  word,  in  all  places 
where  the  Saints  reside,  in  their  public  administra- 
tions, for  this  is  according  to  the  instructions  we 
have  received  from  the  Lord  .  .  .  Let  the  Saints 
come  here — this  is  the  word  of  the  Lord. ' ' " 

Now  for  the  third  time  the  Saints  began  to 
show  their  faith  by  their  works  and  gathered 
from  various  parts  of  the  United  States  and 
Canada.  Mormon  propaganda  had  met  with 
unusual  success  in  England  and  converts  began 
to  pour  in  by  the  ship-load.  The  people  were 
directed  to  purchase  their  lands  through  Joseph 
Smith,  with  the  promise  of  God's  blessing  upon 
them  if  they  did,"  while  some  were  excommuni- 
cated for  not  doing  so." 

The  storm-clouds  soon  began  to  hover  over 
this  so-called  city  of  Zion.  The  Illinoians  who 
had,  like  the  people  of  Clay  County,  Missouri, 
received  and  sheltered  the  Mormons,  sympa- 

"  Times  and  Seasons,  Vol.  2,  pp.  274-276. 
"Nauvoo  Neighbor,  December  27,  1843, 
^' Millennial  Star,  Vol  20,  p.  549. 


GATHEEING  TO  ZION  191 

thized  with  them  in  their  alleged  persecutions 
and  condemned  their  persecutors,  now  began  to 
look  upon  them  as  very  undesirable  neighbors. 
The  Mormons  were  accused  of  crime  of  nearly 
every  description.  The  accusations  were  chiefly 
made  by  Mormons,  or  those  who  had  been  Mor- 
mons. Their  conduct  was  such  that  their  pres- 
ence could  no  longer  be  tolerated.  Under  the 
leadership  of  Smith,  his  followers  destroyed  the 
printing  press  of  The  Nauvoo  Expositor,  which 
raised  the  people  to  the  height  of  fury,  and 
Smith  was  landed  in  the  jail  at  Carthage,  Han- 
cock County,  where  a  band  of  infuriated  citizens 
overcame  a  body  of  soldiers  who  were  on  guard 
and  shot  him  and  his  brother  Hyrum  to  death, 
June  27, 1844. 

The  Mormons  were  given  a  certain  time  to 
prepare  to  leave  Illinois,  and  being  compelled  by 

Note. — One  of  the  prevalent  tendencies,  as  a  result  of 
Mormon  propaganda,  is  to  minimize  the  menace  of  Mor- 
monism.  It  is  said  to  be,  "  No  longer  the  menace  to  Ameri- 
can ideals  that  it  once  was;  that  polygamy  is  practically 
eliminated  from  the  Mormon  creed  and  is  publicly  discounte- 
nanced." 

This  the  Mormons  would  like  the  public  to  believe.  But 
if  the  public  believes  this  it  will  be  deceived  in  so  doing. 
The  Mormons  never  ceased  polygamous  practice,  in  any 
degree,  from  choice.  They  did  what  they  did  by  compulsion. 
When  the  government  began  wholesale  war  on  polygamy 
the  Alormons  sought  peace  by  "  negotiation "  and  got  it 
through  diplomacy.  However,  every  Utah  Mormon  believes 
he  is  in  a  universe  around  which  are  numberless  spirits 
waiting  for  a  body  which  can  only  be  given  through  polyg- 
amj'.  Mormon  books  teach  it  and  Mormon  people  believe 
it  as  ardently  as  ever.  All  talk  about  it  as  a  "  Dead  issue  " 
is  a  camouflage  of  the  truth. 


192    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

a  force  of  arms,  they  evacuated  the  city  in  1846, 
the  main  body  following  under  the  lead  of 
Brigham  Young  to  Utah  and  wcinity.  Others 
followed  the  several  leaders  who  arose  at  this 
time,  all  of  them  making  wild  and  extravagant 
claims,  while  others  gave  up  their  faith  in  Mor- 
monism  forever. 

These  attempts  to  gather  to  Zion  so  far  had 
only  resulted  in  an  opportunity  for  the  leaders 
to  exploit  the  people,  and  they  clearly  demon- 
strated their  mistaken  ideas  which  they  had 
given  out  as  the  wisdom  of  the  Almighty. 


XII 
THE  NAUVOO  EXPOSITOE 

THE  leading  crisis  in  tlie  history  of  the 
Mormon  Church  under  the  leadership 
of  Joseph  Smith  came  with  the  publi- 
cation of  the  above-named  paper,  the  first  and 
only  issue  bearing  date  of  June  7,  1844. 

The  principal  person  engaged  in  the  publica- 
tion was  William  Law,  who  had  been  elevated 
to  the  position  of  first  counsellor  to  Joseph 
Smith,  in  the  place  of  his  brother  Hyrum.' 

The  paper,  true  to  its  name,  was  published  at 
Nauvoo,  Illinois,  for  the  purpose  of  exposing  the 
evils  which  it  alleged  existed  in  Mormondom  at 
that  time.  It  would  seem  a  thing  of  vast  impor- 
tance, in  view  of  the  general  reputation  of  Mor- 
monism,  that  every  person  interested  in  any  de- 
gree should  know  something  of  the  contents  of 
this  paper.  The  Mormon  historians  have  not 
reproduced  its  subject  matter.  A  very  small  per 
cent  of  the  Mormons  of  to-day  know  anything 
about  it.  The  history  published  by  the  Reorgan- 
ized Church  dismisses  it  with  these  few  words : 

*"  Doctrine  and  Covenants,"  (R),  107:29. 
193 


194    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

*' June  7, 1844,  the  Expositor  made  its  appearance. 
It  contained  much  that  was  of  a  slanderous  char- 
acter, and  also  affidavits  against  the  character  of  the 
Prophet  and  others/' ' 

There  seems  to  be  a  disposition  on  the  part  of 
present-day  leaders  of  Mormonism  to  keep  the 
knowledge  of  the  contents  of  this  paper  from  the 
people.  Immediately  upon  the  publication  of 
the  paper,  the  Mormons,  fearing  its  effect,  or- 
dered its  utter  destruction.  The  press  was  des- 
troyed and  the  type  thrown  into  the  street  and 
the  publishers  were  compelled  to  flee.  There  are 
yet  a  few  copies  of  the  paper  in  existence '  and 
the  quotations  which  we  make  here  are  direct. 

At  the  time  of  the  publication  of  the  paper 
Mr.  Law,  and  others  associated  with  him,  be- 
lieved in  the  Mormon  Church.  They,  however, 
saw  that  the  practice  of  things  in  secret  and 
their  public  denial  would  inevitably  lead  to  dis- 
aster. They  professed  to  act  from  high  motives 
that  the  truth  might  be  known.  Nearly  every- 
thing that  was  charged  against  the  leaders  of 
Mormonism  at  the  time  has  since  been  com- 
monly admitted  to  have  been  true. 

The  Expositor  set  forth  its  allegations  in  a 
series  of  resolutions,  the  first  of  which  was  a 
protest  against : 

«  "  Church  History,"  (R) ,  2 :  737- 

"Quotations  are  made  from  original,  copy  of  which  may 
be  found  in  the  New  York  City  Public  I^ibrary. 


THE  KAUVOO  EXPOSITOE  195 

**The  acts  of  any  Court  in  this  Church  for  the 
trial  of  any  of  its  members,  which  will  not  suffer 
the  accused  to  be  present  and  plead  their  own 


Mr.  Law  and  several  others  had  been  expelled 
from  the  Church  without  an  opportunity  to  de- 
fend themselves.  The  second  resolution  charged 
Joseph  and  Hyrum  Smith  and  other  ofQ.cial 
characters : 

**They  have  introduced  into  the  Church,  false  and^ 
damnable    doctrines,    such    as    plurality    of    Gods ' 
...    the  plurality  of  wives  for  time  and  eternity 
.    .    .    we  are  therefore  constrained  to  denounce 
them  as  apostates  from  the  pure  and  holy  doctrine  ^ 
of  Jesus  Christ." 

Under  the  pretext  of  giving  the  world  "  milk 
before  meat,"  the  Utah  Mormons  have  tried  to 
justify  themselves  in  the  living  of  an  open  lie — 
they  were  actually  practicing  polygamy  secretly 
and  denying  it  publicly.  The  Keorganized 
Church  to-day  is  seeking  to  uphold  another 
falsehood  of  the  rankest  sort  by  asserting  that 
polygamy  is  only  chargeable  upon  the  Utah 
Mormons.  It  was  charged  before  there  were 
Utah  Mormons.  The  third  resolution  was  as 
follows : 

*'That  we  disapprobate  and  discountenance  every 
attempt  to  unite  Church  and  State ;  and  we  further 
})elieve  the  effort  now  being  made  by  Joseph  Smith, 


198    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

for  political  power  and  influence,  is  not  commend- 
able in  the  sight  of  God.''  * 

At  the  time  Joseph  Smith  was  out  on  an  inde- 
pendent ticket  for  President  of  the  United 
States.  The  resolution  sounds  more  the  note  of 
good  sense  than  slander. 

The  fourth  resolution  reads : 

**That  the  hostile  spirit  and  conduct  manifested 
by  Joseph  Smith,  and  many  of  his  associates,  toward 
Missouri,  and  others  inimical  to  his  purposes,  are 
decidedly  at  variance  with  the  true  spirit  of  Chris- 
tianity, and  should  not  be  encouraged  by  any  people, 
much  less  by  those  professing  to  be  the  ministers  of 
the  gospel  of  peace.'' 

Was  there  justification  for  such  a  resolution? 
Kote  the  following : 

''0  Death!  wilt  thou  not  give  to  every  honest  man 
a  heated  dart  to  sting  those  wretches  while  they 
pollute  the  land  ? 

And  0  Grave!  wilt  thou  not  open  the  trap  door 
to  the  pit  of  ungodly  men,  that  they  may  stumble 
inr"* 

Again : 

*Over  300  Elders  were  out  to  "Present  before  the  peo- 
ple General  Smith's  views  of  the  powers  and  policy  of  the 
general  government,  and  to  seek  diligently  to  get  up  electors 
who  will  go  for  him  for  the  Presidency/*— iW^tV/^wm'a/  Star, 
Vol.  23,  pp.  360-374. 

^MiHi^nnial  ^tar,  Vol  Z2,  p.  391. 


THE  NAUVOO  EXPOSITOR  197 

**  Missouri  .  .  .  should  she  continue  her  pres- 
ent murderous  policy,  the  day  of  righteous  retribu- 
tion and  the  avenging  of  blood  will  not  be  procrasti- 
nated— for  her  plains  shall  be  bleached  with  the 
bones  of  the  slain,  and  her  rivers  flow  with  blood, 
before  another  massacre  will  be  suffered.''" 

Missouri  had  repeatedly  attempted  to  capture 
Smith  and  take  him  back  withiu  the  State  for 
trial  upon  the  charges  pending  against  him 
when  he  escaped  from  the  jail.  These  threats 
were  made  in  consequence  of  these  attempts. 
The  Missourians  have  some  very  serious  charges 
to  make  against  the  Mormons,  such  as  burning 
their  houses,  stealing,  etc. 

The  fifth  resolution  reads : 

*'That  we  disapprobate  malicious  persecution  and 
prosecution.  We  hold  that  Church  members  are 
alike  amenable  to  the  laws  of  the  land ;  and  we  fur- 
ther discountenance  any  chicanery  to  screen  them 
from  the  just  demands  of  the  same.'* 

As  Judge  of  the  Municipal  Court  of  Nauvoo, 
Smith  could  discharge  from  arrest  any  person 
in  his  favor.  The  manner  of  administration  of 
justice  from  that  tribunal  could  not  long  be  tol- 
erated in  a  free  country  and  resulted  in  the  re- 
peal of  the  City  Charter  by  action  of  the  State. 
Hence  the  resolution  was  highly  justifiable. 
What  an  impropriety  for  a  man  in  Smith's  posi- 

°  Times  and  Seasons,  Vol.  i,  p.  167. 


198    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

tion  to  be  acting  as  a  judge!  The  Eeorganized 
Church  seems  to  think  it  a  great  outrage  that 
the  Utah  Church  has  been  so  mixed  up  in  secu- 
lar affairs,  even  to  granting  divorces,'  but  in  so 
doing  the  Church  is  carrying  on  the  methods 
employed  by  the  Prophet. 
The  sixth  resolution  reads : 

*'That  we  consider  the  religious  influence  exer- 
cised in  financial  concerns  by  Joseph  Smith,  as  un- 
just as  it  is  unwarranted,  for  the  book  of  Doctrine 
and  Covenants,  makes  it  the  duty  of  the  Bishop  to 
take  charge  of  the  financial  affairs  of  the  Church.'' 

In  the  Mormon  literature  of  that  day  Smith 
is  often  referred  to  as  "  Trustee  in  Trust." '  He 
ever  kept  close  to  the  receiving  department  of  the 
Church  finances.  He  was  the  treasurer  of  the 
"Kirtland  Safety  Society  Bank,"'  which  was 
organized  after  the  Legislature  of  the  State  of 
Ohio  had  refused  to  grant  a  charter,  and  soon 
failed,  causing  great  dissatisfaction  among  the 
followers  of  Smith,  so  that  he  left  Kirtland 
under  cover  of  the  night  and  never  returned. 

The  seventh  resolution  reads : 

**That  we  discountenance  and  disapprobate  the 
attendance  at  houses  of  revelling  and  dancing ;  dram 
shops  and  theatres." 

'"Brighainism  Exposed,"  (R),  p.  142. 

*  Naiivoo  Neighbor,  December  27,  1843. 

*  "  Slory  of  the  Mormons,"  by  Linn,  p.  1485^. 


THE  NATJVOO  EXPOSITOR  199 

Dancing  and  drinking  have  continued  in  the 
Mormon  Church  in  Utah."  The  following  is  of 
interest,  showing  the  attitude  of  the  Prophet : 

*'I  told  Theodore  Turley  that  I  had  no  objection 
to  his  building  a  brewery."" 

In  the  Church  paper  Mr.  Turley  gave  notice 
of  his  business,  concluding  with  this : 

^'N.  B,  Whiskey,  Beer  and  Cider  Barrels,  taken 
in  exchange  for  Beer  and  Ale.'' " 

It  seems  very  probable  that  the  charge  made 
by  the  Expositor  could  easily  be  sustained.  The 
eighth  resolution  states : 

**That  we  look  upon  the  pure  and  holy  doctrines 
set  forth  in  the  scriptures  of  divine  truth,  as  being 
the  immutable  doctrines  of  salvation,  and  he  who 
abideth  in  them  shall  be  saved.'' 

This  statement  was  no  doubt  called  forth  by 
the  polygamous  revelation,  which,  the  Expositor 
declared,  had  been  secretly  introduced  by  Smith, 
which  declared,  "  for  no  one  can  reject  this  cove- 
nant and  be  permitted  to  enter  into  my  glory."  " 

The  ninth  resolution  reads  as  follows : 

""Mormonism— The  Islam  of  America,"  p.  134  ff. 
"Millennial  Star,  Vol.  20,  p.  647. 
"Nanvoo  Neighbor,  April  10,  1844. 
""Doctrine  and  Covenants,"   (U),  132:4. 


200    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

"That  we  consider  gathering  in  haste,  and  by 
sacrifice,  to  be  contrary  to  the  will  of  God;  and 
that  it  has  been  taught  by  Joseph  Smith  and  others 
for  the  purpose  of  enabling  them  to  sell  property  at 
most  exorbitant  prices ;  not  regarding  the  welfare  of 
the  Church,  but  through  their  covetousness  reducing 
those  who  had  means  to  give  employment  to  the  poor 
to  the  necessity  to  seeking  labor  for  themselves ;  and 
thus  the  wealth  which  is  brought  into  the  place  is 
swallowed  up  of  the  one  great  throat,  from  whence 
there  is  no  return. '* 

The  tenth  resolution  reads,  in  part,  as  fol- 
lows: 

'^That  ...  we  consider  the  injunction  laid 
upon  the  Church,  compelling  them  to  purchase  prop- 
erty of  the  Trustee  in  Trust  (Smith)  is  a  deception 
practised  upon  them    .    .    . 

That  the  appropriations  said  to  have  been  sub- 
scribed by  shares  for  the  building  of  the  Nauvoo 
House,  to  have  been  used  by  J.  Smith  and  Lyman 
Wight,  for  other  purposes. '^ 

The  eleventh  resolution  was  as  follows : 

"That  we  consider  all  secret  societies  and  com- 
binations under  penal  oaths  and  obligations  to  be 
anti-Christian,  hypocritical  and  corrupt." 

A  band,  called  the  "  Danites,"  or  "  Avenging 
Angels,"  had  been  organized  in  connection  with 
the  Church  in  Missouri.    There  is  evidence  of 


THE  NAUVOO  EXPOSITOR  201 

their  existence  in  and  about  Nanvoo,  and  of  their 
evil  work  in  Utah  and  vicinity. 

The  twelfth  resolution  reads  as  follows : 

**That  we  will  not  acknowledge  any  man  as  King 
or  law  giver  to  the  Church;  for  Christ  is  our  only 
King  and  law  giver/' 

It  is  a  fact,  well  authenticated,  as  before  men- 
tioned, that  Joseph  Smith  was  ordained  a  king 
to  reign  over  the  House  of  Israel  forever ! "  Mr. 
Law,  who  was  officially  connected  with  the  Ex- 
positor, was  in  position  to  know  what  was  going 
on  within  the  inner  circle  of  the  Church,  as  he 
was  a  member  of  the  First  Presidency. 

The  thirteenth  resolution  reads : 

**That  we  call  upon  the  honest  in  heart  m  the 
Church,  and  throughout  the  world,  to  vindicate  the 
pure  doctrine  of  Jesus  Christ,  whether  set  forth  in 
the  Bible,  Book  of  Mormon  or  Book  of  Covenants; 
and  we  hereby  withdraw  the  hand  of  fellowship  from 
all  those  who  practise  or  teach  doctrines  contrary  to 
the  above.*' 

Mr.  Law  and  others  endeavored  to  maintain  a 
religious  organization  with  a  view  to  carrying 
out  this  resolution,  but  because  of  the  violent 
opposition  of  the  other  Mormons  had  to  desist. 

The  fourteenth  resolution  reads : 

"Saints'  Herald,  (R),  Vol.  51,  No.  4,  Statement  of  Wm. 
Marks. 


202    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

' '  That  we  hereby  notify  all  those  holding  licenses 
to  preach  the  gospel,  who  know  they  are  guilty  of 
teaching  the  doctrine  of  other  Gods  above  the  God 
of  this  world;  the  plurality  of  wives;  the  uncondi- 
tional sealing  up  against  all  crimes,  save  that  of 
shedding  of  innocent  blood;  the  spoiling  of  the 
gentiles,  and  all  other  doctrines,  which  are  contrary 
to  the  laws  of  God,  to  the  laws  of  the  country,  to 
cease  preaching/' 

Nearly  all  these  things  were  taught  in  the 
new  revelations  which  Smith  had  received.  The 
Utah  Mormons  have  continued  to  stand  by  them, 
while  the  Eeorganized  Church  has  been  trying 
to  becloud  the  minds  of  the  people  with  refer- 
ence to  them. 

The  fifteenth  and  last  resolution  reads : 

'*That  in  all  our  controversies  in  defense  of  truth 
and  righteousness,  the  weapons  of  our  warfare  are 
not  carnal;  but  mighty  through  God,  to  the  pulling 
down  of  the  strongholds  of  Satan;  that  our  strifes 
are  not  against  flesh  or  blood  or  bones ;  but  against 
principalities  and  power;  against  spiritual  wicked- 
ness in  high  places.'' 

In  the  light  of  the  subsequent  history  of  Mor- 
monism  it  may  be  clearly  seen  that  all  these 
charges  were  made  on  the  basis  of  fact.  All 
Mormons  should  know  these  facts. 

Immediately  after  the  publication  of  the  Ew- 


THE  NAUVOO  EXPOSITOE  203 

positor  the  City  Council  was  called  by  the 
Mayor,  Joseph  Smith.  Smith  declared  to  the 
council  that  "  He  would  rather  die  to-morrow 
and  have  the  thing  smashed,  than  live  and  have 
it  go  on,  for  it  is  exciting  the  spirit  of  mobocracy 
amongst  the  people  and  bringing  death  and  de- 
struction upon  us."  " 

Councillor  Hyrum  Smith,  his  brother,  said  he 
"  believed  the  best  way  was  to  smash  the  press 
and  ^  pi '  the  type."  A  resolution  was  passed  by 
the  council  to  cause  "  said  printing  press  to  be 
removed  without  delay,  in  such  manner  as  he 
shall  direct."  Smith  at  once  gave  the  order  to 
destroy  the  press  and  "pi"  the  type  in  the 
street,  and  burn  all  Expositors,  and  if  resistance 
should  be  offered  to  demolish  the  house,  etc. 

The  Mormons  proceeded  to  carry  out  this 
order.  Eeturning  from  the  destruction  of  the 
Expositor,  the  crowd  was  met  by  Smith  at  the 
door  of  his  mansion,  where  he  says,  "  I  told  them 
they  had  done  right  and  that  not  a  hair  of  their 
heads  should  be  hurt  for  it  .  .  .  I  then  blessed 
them  in  the  name  of  the  Lord."  "  It  has  been 
held  by  of^cials  of  the  Reorganized  Church  that 
Smith  was  not  to  blame  for  this  drastic  act  that 
probably  cost  him  his  life.  The  minutes  of  the 
Council,  published  in  the  Mormon  paper,  The 
Naiivoo  Neighbor,  June  19,  1844,  shows  very 

^^  Naiivoo  Neighbor,  June  19,  1844. 
^^  Millennial  Star,  Vol.  2Z,  p.  752. 


204    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MORMONISM 

clearly  that  he  was  directly  responsible.    In  the 
same  issue  he  declared : 

* '  If  then  our  charter  gives  us  the  power  to  decide 
what  shall  be  a  nuisance  and  cause  it  to  be  removed, 
where  is  the  offense?  ...  I  Therefore,  in  be- 
half of  the  Municipal  Court  of  Nauvoo,  warn  the 
lawless  not  to  precipitate  in  any  interference  in  our 
affairs,  for  as  sure  as  there  is  a  God  in  Israel,  we 
shall  ride  triumphant  over  all  oppression." 

Governor  Ford,  of  Illinois,  said : 

**The  whole  proceedings  of  the  Mayor,  the  Com- 
mon Council,  and  the  Municipal  Court  were  irregular 
and  illegal,  and  not  to  be  endured  in  a  free  coun- 
try."" 

In  the  Expositor  there  appeared  affidavits 
from  prominent  persons  to  the  effect  that 
Joseph  and  Hyrum  Smith  had  taught  them  the 
doctrine  of  polygamy.  This  and  other  evidence 
we  will  consider  in  the  succeeding  chapter. 

*'  Ford's  "  History  of  Illinois,"  p.  325. 


xm 

MORMON  POLYGAMY 

THERE  is  no  subject  in  connection  with 
Mormonism  that  has  provoked  so  much 
controversy  and  comment  as  polygamy. 
The  Utah  Church  openly  and  publicly  acknowl- 
edged their  acceptance  of  this  doctrine,  after 
having  practiced  it  secretly  and  denying  it  in 
their  printed  statements  for  years. 

The  Reorganized  Church  repudiates  the  doc- 
trine and  seeks  to  defend  Mormonism,  under  the 
leadership  of  Joseph  Smith,  from  complicity  in 
the  evil.  The  Reorganized  Church  boldly  as- 
serts :  That  "  There  is  not  an  authentic  pub- 
lished word  "  that  ever  came  from  the  pen  or 
tongue  of  Joseph  Smith  behind  which  a  polyga- 
mist  can  hide.* 

Heman  C.  Smith,  Church  Historian,  says : 

**  There  can  be  found  no  word  in  favor  of  plural 
marriage  in  Church  publications  issued  before  the 
death  of  Joseph  Smith,  June  27,  1844.''' 

*  Pamphlet  No.  600,  "J.  Smith  m  His  Own  Defense,"  (R), 
p.  2. 

'Pamphlet,  "Was  J.  Smith  a  Polygamist?"  (R),  July, 
1899, 

205 


^6    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OP  MOEMONISM 

In  a  pamphlet  entitled  "  An  Open  Letter  to 
the  Clergy,"  written  by  Mr.  E.  A.  Smith,  of  the 
Eeorganized  Church,  he  says : 

*'Behmd  the  evil  mask  of  Utah  Mormonism  is  seen 
the  face  of  Brigham  Young,  not  that  of  Joseph 
Smith. 

The  so-called  revelation  sanctioning  polygamy 
found  in  Utah  Editions  of  the  Doctrine  and  Cove- 
nants, while  it  bears  the  name  of  Joseph  Smith,  was 
never  published  until  eight  years  after  his  death,  and 
was  then  produced  by  Brigham  Yomig.  It  is  a 
fradulent  document."' 

This  pamphlet  is  now  being  circulated,  espe- 
cially among  the  clergy,  in  order  to  win  favor 
toward  this  sect  of  Mormonism.  Will  the  facts 
justify  these  assertions?  They  will  not.  Against 
these  statements  we  shall  offer  evidence  quoted 
directly  from  the  publications  of  the  time,  prov- 
ing conclusively  that  Joseph  Smith,  the  Mormon 
Prophet,  did  covertly,  under  the  claim  of  a  reve- 
lation from  God  to  him,  teach  the  doctrine  of 
plurality  of  wives  to  leading  officers  and  mem- 
bers of  the  Mormon  Church  at  Nauvoo,  Illinois. 
In  the  Nauvoo  Expositor,  published  June  7, 
1844,  the  following  affidavit  appears : 

*'I  hereby  certify  that  Hyrum  Smith,  did  read  to 
me  a  certain  written  document,  which  he  said  was  a 
revelation  from  God.    He  said  he  was  with  Joseph 
*"Aii  Open  lyctter  to  the  Clergy,"  p.  8. 


MOEMON  POLYGAMY  207 

when  it  was  received.  He  afterwards  gave  me  the 
document  to  read,  and  I  took  it  to  my  house  and 
read  it  and  showed  it  to  my  wife  and  returned  it  the 
next  day. 

The  revelation  authorized  certain  men  to  have 
more  wives  than  one  at  a  time,  in  this  world  and  in 
the  world  to  come.  It  said  this  was  the  law  and 
commanded  Joseph  to  enter  into  the  law.  Several 
other  items  were  in  the  revelation  supporting  the 
above  doctrines.*  Wm.  Law." 

Mrs.  Law,  wife  of  William  Law,  gave  the  fol- 
lowing sworn  statement : 

'*I  certify  that  I  read  the  revelation  referred  to  in 
the  above  affidavit  of  my  husband.  It  sustained  in 
strong  terms  the  doctrine  of  more  wives  than  one  at 
a  time,  in  this  world  and  in  the  next.  It  authorized 
some  to  have  to  the  number  of  ten,  and  set  forth  that 
those  women  who  would  not  allow  their  husbands 
more  wives  than  one  should  be  under  condemna- 
tion before  God.  Jane  Law." 

The  following  statement  also  appears  in  the 
Expositor  from  a  "  firm  friend  to  the  Prophet,"  ** 
Elder  Austin  Cowles : 

*'To  All  Whom  it  May  Concern: 

For  as  much  as  the  public  mind  hath  been  much 
agitated  by  a  course  of  procedure  in  the  Church  of 

*  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ebenezer  Robinson,  prominent  members  of 
the  Reorganized  Church,  made  a  sworn  statement,  in  1873, 
that  Hyrum  Smith  taught  them  the  doctrine  of  polygamy  at 
Nauvoo  in  1843. 

" "  Tullidge  History,"  p.  749. 


208    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OP  MOEMONISM 

Jesus  Christ  of  Latter  Day  Saints,  by  a  number  of 
persons  declaring  against  certain  doctrines  and 
practices  therein,  it  is  but  meet  that  I  should  give  my 
reasons,  at  least  in  part,  as  a  cause  that  hath  led  me 
to  declare  myself. 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  summer,  1843,  the 
patriarch,  Hyrum  Smith,  did,  in  the  High  Council 
of  which  I  was  a  member,  introduce  what  he  said 
was  a  revelation  given  through  the  Prophet;  that 
the  said  Hyrum  Smith  did  read  said  revelation  in 
said  council;  that  according  to  his  reading  there 
was  contained  the  following  doctrines : 

1st.  The  sealing  up  of  persons  to  eternal  life, 
against  all  sin,  save  that  of  shedding  innocent  blood 
or  consenting  thereto ;  2nd.  The  doctrine  of  plurality 
of  wives  or  marrying  of  virgins;  that  David  and 
Solomon  had  many  wives,  yet  in  this  thing  they 
sinned  not  save  in  the  matter  of  Uriah. 

This  revelation,  with  other  evidence  that  the  afore- 
said heresies  were  taught  and  practised  in  the 
Church,  determined  me  to  leave  the  office  of  first 
counselor  to  the  President  of  the  Church  at  Kauvoo, 
inasmuch  as  I  dared  not  teach  or  administer  such 
laws.  Austin  Cowles.'" 

Note.—"  The  doctrine  of  plurality  of  wives  is  a  part  of 
our  religion,  and  necessary  for  our  exaltation  in  the  eternal 
world.  Take  unto  yourselves  more  wives."  This  was  said 
by  Orson  Pratt,  Mormon  Apostle.  In  obedience  to  it  Fathers 
have  bound  and  whipped  their  daughters  until  they  would 
submit  to  marriage  to  some  old  polygamist.  A  chapter  of 
horrors  might  be  written  of  the  jealousies,  quarrels,  the 
cruelties,  and  hatreds  which  never  die,  which  have  come 
between  polygamous  wives  in  Utah.  Although  the  Utah 
Mormons  claim  they  have  abandoned  the  practice,  they  have 

•  These  Affidavits  are  in  Nauvoo  Expositor,  June  7,  1844, 


MOEMON  POLYGAMY 


209 


hy  no  means  ceased  to  believe  the  principle  of  plural  mar- 
riage. If  they  were  willing  to  abandon  the  practice  of 
polygamy  on  a  word  from  their  prophet,  who  shall  say  that 
they  may  not  resume  it  if  a  word  shall  come  to  that  effect? 
But  they  have  never  abandoned  it. 

Note.— We  will  attempt  a  critical  examination  of  the 
"  Revelation  on  plurality  of  Wives  "  purported  to  have  been 
given  by  Joseph  Smith  July  12,  1843,  at  Nauvoo,  Illinois,  and 
later,  in  1852,  made  public  by  the  Church  in  Utah.  As  a 
means  of  identification,  some  items  in  the  brief  description 
given  at  the  time  are  here  offered : 


EXTRACTS  FROM  THE 
REVEI.ATION 

Verily  thus  saith  the  Lord 
unto  you  my  servant  Joseph, 
that  inasmuch  as  you  have 
inquired  of  my  hand,  to  know 
and  understand  wherein,  I, 
the  Lord,  justified  my  serv- 
ants, Abraham,  Isaac  and 
Jacob;  as  also  Moses,  David 
and  Solomon,  my  servants  as 
touching  the  principle  and 
doctrine  of  their  having  many 
wives,  and  concubines :  Be- 
hold! and  lo,  I  am  the  Lord 
thy  God  and  zvill  answer  thee 
as  touching  this  matter. — 
Par.  I. 

Therefore  prepare  thy  heart 
to  receive  and  obey  the  in- 
structions which  I  am  about 
to  give  unto  you  .  .  .  for 
no  one  can  reject  this  cove- 
nant and  be  permitted  to 
enter  into  my  glory. — Par,  I. 

I  have  appointed  unto  my 
servant  Joseph  to  hold  this 
power  in  the  last  days  and 
there  is  never  but  one  on  the 
earth  at  a  time,  on  whom  this 
power  and  the  keys  of  this 
priesthood  are  conferred. — 
Par.  2. 


STATEMENTS    MADE 
CONCERNING  IT 

"Referred  to  the  revela- 
tion read  to  the  High  Council 
of  the  Church,  which  has 
caused  so  much  talk  about  a 
multipHcity  of  wives;  that 
said  revelation  was  in  ansiver 
to  a  question  concerning 
things  which  transpired  in 
former  days,  and  had  no  ref- 
erence to  the  present  time." 
Hyrum  Smith. 


"It  said  this  was  the  law 
and  commanded  Joseph  to 
enter  into  the  law." 

Wm.  Law. 


"And  also  that  He  (Jo- 
seph) should  administer  to 
others."  Wm.  Law. 


210    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OP  MORMONISM 


Therefore  when  they  are 
out  of  the  world,  they 
neither  marry  nor  are  given 
in  marriage,hut  are  appointed 
Angels  in  heaven,  which  An- 
gels are  ministering  servants, 
to  minister  for  those  who  are 
worthy  of  a  far  more,  and  an 
exceeding,  and  an  eternal 
weight  of  glory;  for  these 
Angels  did  not  abide  my  law, 
therefore  they  cannot  be  en- 
larged but  remain  separately, 
and  singly,  without  exalta- 
tion.— Par.  4. 


"That  on  enquiring  con- 
cerning the  passage  in  the 
resurrection  concerning'  They 
neither  marry  nor  are  given 
in  marriage/  etc.,  he  received 
for  answer, — Men  in  this  life 
must  marry  in  view  of  eter- 
nity, otherwise  they  must  re- 
maiti  as  Angels,  or  be  single 
in  heaven,  which  was  the 
amount  of  the  revelation  re- 
ferred to."-— Joseph  Smith. 


I  say  unto  you,  if  a  man 
marry  a  wife,  and  make  a 
covenant  with  her  for  time, 
and  for  all  eternity,  if  that 
covenant  is  not  by  me,  or  by 
my  word  which  is  my  law, 
and  is  not  sealed  by  the  Holy 
Spirit  of  promise,  through 
him,  whom  I  have  anointed 
and  appointed  unto  this  power 
.  .  .  when  they  are  out  of 
the  world  it  cannot  be  re- 
ceived there,  because  the  An- 
gels and  the  Gods  are  ap- 
pointed there,  by  whom  they 
cannot  pass. — Par.  5. 


"They  make  a  criminality, 
for  a  man  to  have  a  zvife  on 
the  earth  while  he  has  one  in 
heaven,  according  to  the  keys 
of  the  Holy  Priesthood." 
Joseph  Smith. 


And  if  ye  abide  in  my 
covenant  and  commit  no  mur- 
der whereby  to  shed  innocent 
blood,  it  shall  be  done  unto 
them  in  all  things  whatsoever 
my  servant  hath  put  upon 
them,  in  time  and  through  all 
eternity;  and  shall  be  of  full 
force  when  they  are  out  of 
the  world,  and  they  shall  pass 
by  the  Angels,  and  the  Gods 
which  are  set  there,  to  their 
exaltation  and  glory.— Par.  6. 


"Hyrum  Smith  did  essay 
to  read  the  said  revelation  in 
the  said  Council ;  that  accord- 
ing to  his  reading,  there  was 
contained  the  following  doc- 
trines:  1st,  The  sealing  up  of 
persons  to  eternal  life,  against 
all  sin,  save  that  of  shedding 
innocent  blood  or  of  consent- 
ing thereto." 

Austin  Cowi.es. 


MOBMOK  POLYGAMY  211 

Then   shall   they  be   Gods,  "The    revelation    is,    the 

because   they   have   no   end;  more   wives   and   children   a 

therefore  shall  they  be  from  man  has   in   this  world,   the 

everlastinsc  to  everlasting  .  .  .  more  honor  and  glory  he  will 

then  shall  they  be  Gods  be-  have    in    the    eternal    world, 

cause    they   have   all   power.  They  will  sit  on  thrones  and 

and   the   Angels   are   subject  have  dominion— cr^ahw^r  and 

unto  them.— Par.  7.  redeeming  worlds." 

Warsaw  Signai,. 

Verily,    verily   I    say   unto       "Therefore  when  the  doc- 

you  except  ye  abide  my  law,  trine   of    Polygamy   was    in- 

ye  cannot  attain  to  this  glory;  troduced  into  the  Church  as 

for    strait    is    the    gate,    and  a   principle    of    exaltation,    I 

narrow  the  way  that  leadeth  took  a  decided  stand  against 

unto  the  exaltation.— Far.  8.  it."  Wm.  Marks. 

Then  shall  they  be  Gods,  "They  (Joseph  and 
because  they  have  no  end;  Hyrum)  have  introduced  false 
.  .  .  Then  shall  they  be  and  damnable  doctrines  into 
Gods,  because  they  have  all  the  Church,  such  as  plurality 
power    and   the    Angels    are  of  Gods.**  Expositor. 

subject  unto  them. — Par.  7. 

Go  ye  therefore  and  do  the  "  Brother  Joseph  has  a  rev- 

works  of  Abraham;  enter  ye  elation   from   God   that  it  is 

into  my  law,  and  ye  shall  be  lawful  and  right  for  a  man  to 

saved.     But   if  ye   enter  not  have  two  wives ;  for  as  it  was 

into  my  law,  ye  cannot  receive  in  the  days  of  Aaraham,  so 

the  promises  of  my  Father,  it  shall  be  in  these  days." 

which  he  made  unto  Abra-  Marthy  H.  Broth erton. 
ham.— Far.  12. 

David  also  received  many      "That  David  and  Solomon 
wives  and  concubines  as  also   had  many  wives  yet  in  this 
Solomon    .    .    .    and  in  none   thing  they  sinned  not,  save  in 
of    these    things    did    he    sin  the  matter  of  Uriah." 
against  me,  save  in  the  case  Austin  Cowi^ES. 

of  Uriah.— Far.  14  and  15. 

Verily,  verily  I  say  unto  "If  there  is  any  sin  in  it  I 
you,  that  whatsoever  you  seal  will  answer  for  it  before 
on  earth,  shall  be  sealed  in  God;  and  I  have  the  keys  of 
heaven. — Par.  17.  the  Kingdom  and  whatever  I 

bind  on  earth  is  bound  in 
heaven  .  .  .  and  if  you 
will  accept  of  Brigham  you 
will  be  blessed." 

Makxhy  H.  Broxherton. 


212    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

If    any    man    espouse    a       "2nd.     The     doctrine     of 
virgin,  and  desire  to  espouse  plurality  of  wives  or  marry- 
another,  and  the  first  give  her   ing  of  virgins/* 
consent;  and  if  he  espouse  the  Austin  Cowles. 

second,  and  they  are  virgins, 
and  have  vowed  to  no  other 
man,  then  is  he  justified. — 
Par.  24. 

And  if  he  have  ten  virgins      "  It  authorized  some  to  have 
given  unto  him  by  this  law,   to  the  number  of  ten.'* 
he    cannot    commit    adultery  Jane  I^aw. 

for  they  belong  to  him. — Par. 
24. 

If   any  man   have   a  wife  "Set      forth     that     those 

who  holds   the  keys  of  this  women  who  would  not  allow 

power   and   he   teaches   unto  their    husbands    more    wives 

her   the   laws   of  my  priest-  than    one    should    be    under 

hood,  as  pertaining  to  these  condemnation  before  God." 

things,  then  shall  she  believe,  JanE  lyAW. 
and  adminster  unto  him,  or 
she  shall  be  destroyed,  saith 
the  I^ord  your  God. — Par.  25. 

These  statements  indicate  clearly  to  all,  except  those  who 
"  prefer "  to  believe  otherwise,  that  this  revelation  now 
pronounced  by  the  Reorganized  Church  as  a  "  fraudulent 
document "  was  known  to  all  these  persons  in  the  days  of 
Joseph  Smith.  All  these  statements  are  in  the  published 
records  of  that  date  and  they  cannot  be  denied.  The  revela- 
tion was  not  written  until  some  time  after  it  had  been  given. 
There  is  no  disagreement  between  it  and  the  common  under- 
standing which  was  had  concerning  it  by  those  who  knew 
about  it. 

These  affidavits  do  not  appear  in  the  history 
of  the  Keorganized  Church.  In  fact,  they  are 
known  to  only  a  very  small  percentage  of  the 
membership.  A  comparison  of  the  revelation 
on  polygamy/  given  in  July,  1843,  and  published 
in  1852,  will  show  how  perfectly  the  revelation 
answers  to  these  brief  descriptions.     Represent- 

'"  Doctrine  and  Covenants,"  (U),  sec.  132. 


MOEMON  POLYGAMY  213 

atives  of  the  Eeorganized  Church  have  been 
very  careless  in  the  way  they  have  tried  to  cover 
over  and  hide  this  shameful  iniquity. 

A  recent  pamphlet,  widely  advertised,  en- 
titled "  A  Nineteenth  Century  Prophet  and  His 
Work,"  says : 

"Seldom,  if  ever,  is  it  made  clear  that  Utah  Mor- 
monism  and  polygamy  were  distortions  developed 
after  the  death  of  Smith  in  1844.  And  that  the 
'Mormon*  Church,  with  its  theology,  morals,  prac- 
tices, and  ideals  has  been  repudiated  in  the  United 
States  Courts  as  not  being  the  continuation  of  and 
successor  to  *  the  original  work  of  Joseph  Smith/ 
and  declared  to  be  an  'apostate  and  secessionist 
body  not  entitled  to  the  rights  and  properties  of  the 
original  church.  This  being  the  case,  it  is  clear  that 
the  man  and  his  work  must  be  judged  quite  apart 
from  Mormonism  and  what  Mormonism  popularly 
stands  for. '*" 

But  the  trouble  is,  this  is  not  the  case !  The 
evidence  shows  that  polygamy  was  the  leading 
"  distortion  "  before  as  well  as  after  1844.  Sucb 
a  statement  as  the  above  cannot  stand  in  the 
light  of  the  truth.  The  Utah  Mormons  did  not 
contest  the  actions  of  the  United  States  Courts 
referred  to.  The  evidence  was  ex  parte.  In  the 
case  of  one  of  these  courts,  the  Judge,  Mr.  Phil- 
ips, told  the  author  that  he  had  made  his  deci- 

' "  A  Nineteenth  Century  Prophet  and  His  W^ork."  Pam- 
phlet (R). 


214    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MORMONISM 

sion  "  On  the  basis  of  the  evidence  that  had  been 
l^resented  to  me."    There  are  very  important 
matters  in  evidence  that  he  had  not  reviewed. 
Also  note  the  following  assertion : 

**  Not  till  1852  was  there  any  mention  made  of  any 
such  revelation,  for  the  best  of  reasons :  it  was  not  in 
existence. 

It  was  first  produced  at  a  conference  in  Salt  Lake 
City,  Utah,  August,  1852,  but  dated  back  to  1843. 
This  would  make  it  appear  abortive — given  in  1843 
and  not  made  public  until  nine  years  later.'' ' 

Not  only  do  we  have  mention  made  of  this 
revelation  in  the  Expositor,  but  by  recent 
searching  we  have  found  mention  of  it  in  an 
official  Mormon  paper,  and  that  too  before  the 
death  of  Smith.  Upon  the  publication  of  the 
Expository  the  whole  city  of  Nanvoo  was  in  an 
uproar  of  excitement.  The  people  in  the  sur- 
rounding country  had  for  some  time  believed 
that  the  Mormons  were  guilty  of  the  violation  of 
the  sacred  marriage  relation,  now  the  rimiors 
were  officially  confirmed.  Under  such  condi- 
tions the  City  Council,  hastily  called,  was  pre- 
sided over  by  Joseph  Smith,  the  Mayor.  The 
minutes  of  the  Council  was  published  in  The 
Nauvoo  Neighbor^  over  the  signature  of  the 
clerk,  on  June  19, 1844." 

*  Zion's  Bnsign,  Independence,  Mo.,  February  6,  1913. 
*"  The  same  may  be  found  also  in  Millennial  Star,  Vol.  23, 
pp.  754,  770,  816. 


MOEMON  POLYGAMY  215 

These  statements  show  that  the  Mormon  lead- 
ers were  at  last  caught  in  their  barbarous 
schemes.  Note  how  they  equivocate  under  the 
pressure  of  the  charges  made : 

**  Councillor  H.  Smith — referred  to  the  revelation 
read  to  the  High  Council  of  the  Church,  which  has 
caused  so  much  talk  about  a  multiplicity  of  wives, 
that  said  revelation  was  in  answer  to  a  question 
concerning  things  which  transpired  in  former  days, 
and  had  no  reference  to  the  present  time. '  ^ " 

The  Mayor,  Joseph  Smith,  said : 

**They  make  a  criminality  for  a  man  to  have  a 
wife  on  the  earth  while  he  has  one  in  heaven,  ac- 
cording to  the  keys  of  the  holy  priesthood  .  .  s 
that  he  had  never  preached  the  revelation  in  private 
as  he  had  in  public — had  not  taught  it  to  the 
anointed  in  the  Church  in  private,  which  statement 
many  present  confirmed. 

that  on  inquiring  concerning  the  passage  in  the 
resurrection  concerning,  *  They  neither  marry  nor 
are  given  in  marriage,'  etc.,  he  received  for  an- 
swer,— men  in  this  life  must  marry  in  view  of  eter- 
nity, otherwise  they  must  remain  as  angels,  or  be 
single  in  heaven,  which  was  the  amount  of  the  revela- 

"Nauvoo  Neighbor,  June  19,  1844.  NoTE.— There  is  no 
mention  of  this  paper  in  the  history  published  by  the  Re- 
organized Church.  It  appears  that  its  existence  has  only 
recently  come  to  light.  The  first  quotation  from  it  appears 
in  Journal  of  History,  (R),  October,  1914,  p.  452, 


216    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OP  MORMONISM 

tion  referred  to,  and  the  Mayor  spoke  at  considerable 
length  of  explanation  of  this  principle. ' ' " 

Here,  in  this  time  of  iexcitement,  confronted 
by  the  evidence  of  their  iniquity,  these  brothers 
in  the  flesh  and  confederates  in  licentiousness 
contradict  each  other.  One  says  it  has  no  refer- 
ence to  the  present  time,  the  other  gives  it  all 
away  by  saying,  "  Men  in  this  life  must  marry 
in  view  of  eternity,  otherwise  they  must  remain 
as  angels,  or  be  single  in  heaven,"  etc.  This  is 
a  further  identification  of  the  revelation  re- 
ferred to  in  the  Expositor,  which  says:  "For 
these  angels  did  not  abide  my  law,  therefore  they 
cannot  be  enlarged,  but  remain  separately  and 
singly,  without  exaltation,  in  their  saved  condi- 
tion to  all  eternity,  and  from  henceforth  are  not 
Gods,  but  are  angels  of  God,  forever  and  for- 
ever." " 

As  the  Prophet  spoke  at  length  in  explana- 
tion of  the  principle,  he  had  the  very  men  in  his 
presence  who  were  afterward  the  leaders  of  the 
Utah  polygamous  Church.  When  this  revela- 
tion was  declared  publicly,  in  1852,  it  was  noth- 
ing new,  or  strange ;  indeed,  the  people  had  been 
practicing  the  doctrine  for  years.  The  Mormons 
seemed  to  feel  that  everything  should  come  in 
its  time,  and  1852  was  the  time,  for  they  were 

"Nauvoo  Neighbor,  June  19,  1844. 
""Doctrine  aiid  Covenants,"  (U),  132: 17. 


MOEMON  POLYGAMY  217 

almost  beyond  tlie  bounds  of  Christian  civiliza- 
tion where  they  could  have  things  their  own 
way. 

In  this  connection  we  quote  the  statement  of 
Joseph  Smith,  son  of  the  Prophet  and  once 
President  of  the  Reorganized  Church.  He  ad- 
mits that  the  evil  grew  up  gradually  in  the 
Church  in  the  later  years  of  his  father^s  life. 

'*  But  the  evil,  un-noted  by  him,  had  taken  root, 
and  it  was  too  late.  What  had  been  possibly  inno- 
cently spiritual  became  fleshly,  sensual — devilish. 
He  was  taken  away.  He  and  Hyrum  placed  them- 
selves in  front  of  the  impending  storm  and  went 
do^vn  to  death.  That  which  in  life  they  were  power- 
less to  prevent,  rapidly  took  the  successive  forms 
heretofore  stated,  and  polygamy  after  eight  years  of 
further  fostering  in  secret,  rose  in  terrible  malignity 
to  essay  the  destruction  of  the  Church.  That  my 
father  may  have  been  a  party  to  the  first  step  in  this 
strange  development,  I  am  perhaps  prepared  to  ad- 
mit though  the  evidence  connecting  him  with  it  is 
vague  and  uncertain.''" 

This  statement  was  written  by  Mr.  Smith 
himself.  It  does  not  appear  in  the  History  of 
the  Reorganized  Church.  It  would  not  be  very 
comforting  to  the  faithful  of  these  days  and  is 
in  utter  contradiction  to  the  present  position  of 
the  Reorganized  Church.    It  would  spoil  their 

"  Tullidge,  "  Life  of  Joseph  the  Prophet "  pp.  798-800. 


218    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

case  to  admit  that  Joseph  and  Hyrum  Smith 
went  to  their  death  under  a  storm  occasioned 
by  the  outraged  moral  sense  of  the  people  on  ac- 
count of  fostering  polygamy  in  secret.  If  there 
is  any  vague  or  uncertain  element  in  the  evi- 
dence which  connects  Smith  directly  with  the 
origin  of  this  doctrine,  it  is  because  the  thing 
was  fostered  in  secret.  Sidney  Eigdon,  so  well 
known  in  all  circles  of  Mormonism,  made  the 
following  statement  just  a  few  months  after  the 
death  of  the  Prophet.    He  says : 

**It  is  a  fact  so  well  known,  that  the  twelve  and 
their  adherents  have  endeavored  to  carry  out  this 
spiritual  wife  business  in  secret,  that  I  hardly 
need  mention  it  here,  and  have  gone  to  the  most 
shameful  and  desperate  lengths  to  keep  it  from  the 
public. 

First,  insulting  innocent  females,  and  when  they 
resented  the  insult,  these  monsters  in  human  shape 
would  assail  their  characters  by  lying  and  per- 
juries, with  a  multitude  of  desperate  men  to  help 
them  effect  the  ruin  of  those  whom  they  had  in- 
sulted.   .    .    . 

How  often  have  these  men  stood  up  before  the 
congregation  and  called  God  and  the  Holy  Angels  to 
witness  that  there  was  no  such  doctrine  taught  in  the 
Church. ''" 

Mr.  Eigdon  was  certainly  a  competent  wit- 

"The  Messenger  and  Advocate,  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  Vol.  I, 
p.  14. 


MOEMON  POLYGAMY  219 

ness — he  was  there.  There  is  corroborating  evi- 
dence of  this  statement,  as  the  following  sworn 
statement  of  Miss  Marthy  H.  Brotherton  will 
show.  This  statement  was  published  in  the 
newspapers,  The  Warsaw  Signal,  July  30, 1842, 
and  The  Sangamo  Journal,  July  22, 1842.  This 
lady  tells  how  she  was  decoyed  into  the  private 
office  of  Joseph  Smith  by  Brigham  Young  and 
Heber  C.  Kimball.  Young  proposed  polygamous 
marriage  to  her  under  the  new  order.    She  says : 

"  My  feelings  at  that  moment  were  indescribable. 
God  only  knows  them.  What !  thought  I,  are  these 
men  that  I  thought  almost  perfection  itself,  de- 
ceivers, and  is  all  my  fancied  happiness  but  a  dream? 

It  was  even  so ;  but  my  next  thought  was,  which 
is  the  best  way  for  me  to  act  at  this  time ;  if  I  say  n(^ 
they  may  do  as  they  think  proper ;  and  to  say  yes,  I 
never  would. 

So  I  considered  it  best  to  ask  for  time  to  think  and 
pray  about  it.  I  therefore  said,  '  if  it  is  lawful  and 
right  perhaps  I  might ;  but  you  know,  sir,  it  is  not.' 

'  Well,  but,'  said  he,  '  Brother  Joseph  has  a  reve- 
lation from  God  that  it  is  lawful  and  right  for  a  man 
to  have  two  wives ;  for  as  it  was  in  the  days  of  Abra- 
ham, so  it  shall  be  in  these  days. '  ' ' 

Young  then  unlocked  the  door  and  went  out 
with  Kimball  after  locking  it  again  with  Miss 
Brotherton  on  the  inside.  He  was  absent  about 
ten  minutes,  when  he  returned  with  the  Prophet 
who  tried  to  persuade  her  to  accept  Brigham  as 


220    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

her  husband.  Smith  told  her  he  held  the  keys 
of  the  kingdom  and  that  he  would  be  responsible 
for  any  sin  in  connection  with  it  before  God. 
The  girl  finally  was  allowed  to  depart  by  prom- 
ising to  forfeit  her  life  should  she  give  away  the 
secret.  She  fled  to  St.  Louis  and  lost  no  time  in 
giving  her  sworn  testimony  to  the  public." 

As  a  sample  of  these  public  denials  of  inward 
iniquity  we  quote  the  following : 

''  NOTICE 
**  As  we  have  lately  been  credibly  informed  that 
an  elder  of  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of  Latter  Day 
Saints,  by  name  of  Hyrum  Brown,  has  been  preach- 
ing polygamy  and  other  false  and  corrupt  doctrines 
in  the  County  of  Lapeer,  State  of  Michigan : 

This  is  to  notify  him  and  the  Church  in  general, 
that  he  has  been  cut  oK  from  the  Church  for  his  in- 
iquity; and  he  is  further  notified  to  appear  at  the 
special  conference  on  the  6th  of  April  next,  to  make 
answer  to  these  charges. 

Joseph  Smith, 
Hyrum  Smith, 
Presidents  of  said  Church.'' " 

Note  that  it  was  the  error  of  "  Preaching  '^ 
this  doctrine  that  is  the  basis  of  the  charge. 
What  kind  of  procedure  is  this,  that  executes  a 
sentence  and  then  cites  to  a  trial?    Should  not 

"  Quoted  in  "  The  True  Origin  of  Mormon  Polygamy,"  by 
Shook,  p.  72. 
"  Times  and  Seasons,  Vol,  5,  p.  423. 


MOEMON  POLYGAMY  221 

the  trial  come  first?    Was  this  really  made  in 
good  faith  or  as  a  blind? 

This  notice  bears  on  its  face  an  outstanding 
falsehood — Hyrum  Smith  was  not  one  of  the 
"  Presidents  "  of  the  Church  at  this  time.  This 
statement  was  made  in  1844,  while  Hyrum 
Smith  had  been  released  from  the  Presidency 
and  made  a  Patriarch  in  1841."  Mr.  Willian 
Law  and  Sidney  Eigdon  were  associated  with 
Smith,  constituting  the  Presidency,  but  cer- 
tainly, in  view  of  statements  they  have  made, 
they  would  never  have  signed  this  notice.  It  is 
a  glaring  sample  of  Mormon  treachery.  An- 
other public  denial  published  by  Hyrum  Smith 
is  of  suflcient  importance  that  we  include  it : 

"Nauvoo,  March  15,  1841. 

To  the  brethren  of  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of 
Latter  Day  Saints,  living  on  China  Creek,  in  Han- 
cock County,  Greeting: — Whereas,  Brother  Richard 
Hewitt  has  called  on  me  to-day  to  know  my  views 
concerning  some  doctrines  that  are  preached  in  your 
place,  and  states  to  me  that  some  of  your  elders  say, 
that  a  man  having  a  certain  priesthood  may  have  as 
many  wives  as  he  pleases,  and  that  doctrine  is  taught 
here  : 

I  say  unto  you  that  that  man  teaches  false  doc- 
trine, for  there  is  no  such  doctrine  taught  here; 
neither  is  there  any  such  thing  practiced  here.  Any 
man  that  is  found  teaching  privately  or  publicly  any 
""Doctrine  and  Covenants,"  (R),  107:29, 


222    THE  FOUNDATIOlilS  OF  MORMONISM 

such  doctrine  is  culpable,  and  will  stand  a  chance  to 
be  brought  before  the  High  Council,  and  lose  his 
license  and  membership  also;  therefore  he  had  better 
beware  what  he  is  about." 


So  much  of  this  letter  is  quoted  in  the  History 
published  by  the  Eeorgauized  Church."  Here  is 
a  clear  case  of  covering  of  facts  that  amounts 
almost  to  an  act  of  dishonesty.  We  quote  the 
remainder  of  this  letter.    It  is  as  follows : 

'*  And  again  I  say  unto  you,  an  elder  has  no  busi- 
ness to  undertake  to  preach  mysteries  in  any  part  of 
the  world,  for  God  has  commanded  us  all  to  preach 
nothing  but  the  first  principles  unto  the  world. 

Neither  has  any  elder  any  authority  to  preach  any 
mysterious  thing  to  any  branch  of  the  Church  unless 
he  has  a  direct  command  from  God  to  do  so. 

Let  the  matter  of  the  Grand  Councils  of  Heaven, 
the  making  of  Gods,  worlds  and  Devils  entirely 
alone;  for  you  are  not  called  to  teach  any  such  doc- 
trine— for  neither  you  nor  the  people  are  capaci- 
tated to  understand  any  such  principles — less  so  to 
teach  them. 

For  when  God  commands  men  to  teach  such  prin- 
ciples the  Saints  will  receive  them. 

Therefore  beware  what  you  teach!  for  the  mys- 
teries of  God  are  not  given  to  all  men;  and  unto 
those  to  whom  they  are  given  they  are  placed  under 
restrictions  to  impart  only  such  as  God  will  com- 
mand them ;  and  the  residue  is  to  be  kept  in  a  f aith- 
»  "  Church  History,"  (R),  2 :  731. 


MORMON  POLYGAMY  223 

ful  breast,  otherwise  he  will  be  brought  under  con- 
demnation. 

By  this  God  will  prove  his  faithful  servants  who 
will  be  called  and  numbered  with  the  chosen.  And 
as  to  the  celestial  glory,  all  will  enter  in  and  possess 
that  kingdom  that  obey  the  gospel,  and  continue  in 
faith  in  the  Lord  unto  the  end  of  his  days.  Now, 
therefore,  I  say  unto  you,  you  must  cease  preaching 
your  miraculous  things,  and  let  the  mysteries  alone 
until  bye  and  bye. 

Preach  faith  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ ;  repentance 
and  baptism  for  the  remission  of  sins ;  the  laying  on 
of  hands  for  the  gift  of  the  Holy  Ghost ;  teaching  the 
necessity  of  strict  obedience  unto  these  principles; 
reasoning  out  of  the  Scriptures ;  proving  them  unto 
the  people.  Humble  yourselves  as  in  dust  and  ashes, 
lest  God  make  you  an  ensample  of  His  wrath  unto 
the  surrounding  world.    Amen. 

In  the  bonds  of  the  everlasting  covenant,  I  am 
Your  obedient  servant, 

Hyrum  Smith."** 

The  question  is :  Are  these  notices  either  real 
or  tacit  denials  of  a  belief  in  or  practice  of 

Note.— The  Utah  Church  says,  "  Those  denials  can  be  ex- 
plained and  have  been  and  while  they  are  true  in  the  sense 
and  for  the  purpose  for  which  they  were  designed,  they  are 
not  denials  of  plural  or  celestial  marriage  as  taught  by  Joseph 
and  Hyrum  Smith,  and  practised  at  the  time  by  both  of 
them,  and  many  others  in  prominent  standing  in  the  Church. 
These  seeming  denials  themselves  are  specific  proofs  of  the 
existence  of  the  true  coin,  the  counterfeit  of  which  they 
denounced." — "Historical  Record,"  (U),  p.  220. 

*  Times  and  Seasons,  Vol.  I,  474. 


224    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

polygamy?  Are  they  not  carefully  worded  eva- 
sions made  for  the  purpose  of  quieting  suspi- 
cion? The  Mormons  went  right  forward  in 
teaching  and  fostering  this  doctrine.  !Not  alone 
the  Mormons  who  went  to  Utah  did  this — there 
were  at  least  six  factions,  or  parties,  who  went 
elsewhere  under  the  leadership  of  some  promi- 
nent Mormon  and  all  of  them  believed  and  prac- 
ticed polygamy  to  some  degree."  These  included 
the  Prophet's  brother,  William  Smith,  who  ad- 
vocated polygamy  as  late  as  ISSl.'' 

As  a  practical  illustration  of  the  Mormon 
method  of  dealing  with  the  world,  we  may  note 
that  the  leading  Elders  of  the  Church  continued 
to  make  these  denials  up  to  near  the  date  when 
they  openly  declared  belief  in  the  doctrine. 

In  a  public  discussion  by  John  Taylor,  later 
one  of  the  Presidents  of  the  Mormon  Church, 
held  in  France,  in  July,  1850,  he  said : 

'*We  are  accused  of  polygamy,  and  actions  the 
most  indelicate,  obscene  and  disgusting,  such  that 
none  but  a  corrupt  and  depraved  heart  could  have 
contrived  ...  I  shall  content  myself  by  read- 
ing our  views  of  chastity  and  marriage  from  a  work 
published  by  us."'' 

He  read  from  the  declaration  given  in  the 

"  "  The  True  Origin  of  Mormon  Polygamy,"  by  Shook,  pp. 
193-194. 
"/6irf.,  pp.  194-195.  "Ibid.,  p.  184. 


MOEMON  POLYGAMY  225 

"  Doctrine  and  Covenants/'  then  in  force,  which 
seemed  to  favor  his  assertion,  but  the  awful 
truth  is  that  at  the  very  time  he  was  the  hus- 
band of  ten  wives." 

If  one  will  take  time  and  analyze  the  letter  of 
Hyrum  Smith,  one  will  see  that  the  Mormons 
have  acted  in  harmony  with  it.  He  could  say 
consistently  that  it  had  never  been  taught  that 
a  man,  "  having  a  certain  priesthood,"  could 
have  as  many  wives  as  he  pleased.  Under  the 
guise  of  "  the  mysteries,''  the  things  not  to  be 
preached  unto  the  world,  the  things  hidden  in  a 
"  faithful  breast," — these  things  were  to  be  left 
alone,  "  until  bye  and  bye."  So,  when  at  last 
the  time  was  ripe,  Brigham  Young,  in  1852,  de- 
clared the  principle  of  polygamy,  which,  as  he 
then  said,  had  been  practiced  for  years." 

The  Reorganized  Church  has  boldly  put  forth 
statements  of  Emma  Smith,  wife  of  the  Prophet, 
which  she  made  in  1879,  in  which  she  says : 

**No  such  thing  as  polygamy,  or  spiritual  wifery, 
was  taught,  publicly  or  privately,  before  my  hus- 
band's death,  that  I  have  now,  or  ever  had,  any 
knowledge  of."'" 

It  is  impossible  to  credit  this  statement  with 
sincerity  and  honesty.    Her  son,  to  whom  she 

""The  True  Origin  of  Mormon  Polygamy,"  by  Shook, 
p.  184. 
*"  Ibid.,  pp.  200-201.  *•  Ibid.,  p.  186. 


226    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MORMONISM 

made  this  statement,  said,  as  quoted  in  this 
chapter,  that  these  things  came  in  the  Church 
during  the  later  years  of  his  father's  life."  She 
must  have  known  about  it.  The  agitation  over 
the  secret  introduction  of  polygamy  was  such 
that  the  Mormon  and  non-Mormon  press  made 
frequent  reference  to  it  before  her  husband's 
death.     The  old  prints  are  still  in  evidence. 

In  earlier  days  of  the  Keorganized  Church  its 
leading  men  made  admissions  that  are  rather 
shocking  in  view  of  the  present  afftrmations. 

Mr.  William  Marks,  one  of  these  leading  men, 
said: 

** During  my  administration  in  the  Church  (at 
Nauvoo)  I  saw  and  heard  of  many  things  that  were 
practised  and  taught  that  I  did  not  believe  to  be  of 
God; 

.  .  .  Therefore  when  the  doctrine  of  polygamy 
was  introduced  into  the  Church  as  a  principle  of  ex- 
altation, I  took  a  decided  stand  against  it;  which 
stand  rendered  me  quite  unpopular  with  many  lead- 
ing ones  of  the  Church. 

.  .  .  Joseph  became  convinced  before  his  death 
that  he  had  done  wrong  ...  He  said  *  We  are  a 
ruined  people.'  I  asked  'How  so?'  He  said,  'This 
doctrine  of  polygamy  or  spiritual  wife  system,  that 
has  been  taught  and  practised  among  us  will  prove 
our  destruction  and  overthrow. ' ' " 

"  "  The  True  Origin  of  Mormon  Polygamy,"  p.  ii  ff. 
^Saints'  Herald,    (R),  Vol  51,  No.  4.     Same  quoted  in 
"The  True  Origin  of  Mormon  Polygamy/'  p.  159. 


MORMON  POLYGAMY  227 

This  statement  was  published  in  1853.  Mr. 
Marks  was  the  President  of  the  High  Council, 
where  the  revelation  was  introduced.  How  in- 
consistent to  try  to  turn  aside  such  a  testimony 
coming  from  such  an  indisputable  source ! 

In  the  first  issue  of  the  Saints'  Herald,  offi.cial 
publication  of  the  Eeorganized  Church,  the 
editor,  Isaac  Sheen,  said : 

*' Joseph  Smith  repented  of  his  connection  with 
this  doctrine,  and  said  it  was  of  the  devil.  He  caused 
the  revelation  on  the  subject  to  be  burned.*'^ 

Mr.  Sheen  lived  in  Hancock  County  from  1842 
to  1846.  He  was  editor  of  the  Herald  from  1859 
to  1872.  He  died  in  1874.  His  statement  as 
given  above  was  never  questioned  while  he  was 
living,  but  now  it  is  dismissed  by  the  statement, 
"  It  was  only  his  opinion." 

Mr.  Jason  W.  Briggs,  the  man  through  whom 
the  Eeorganized  Church  has  its  very  beginning, 
gave  sworn  testimony  as  follows : 

**Yes,  sir,  I  heard  something  about  a  revelation  on 
polygamy  or  plural  marriage  when  I  was  in  Nauvoo 
in  1842 ;  I  heard  there  was  one ;  there  was  talk  go- 
ing on  about  it  at  the  time  and  continued  to  be.'"* 

To  the  ordinary  person  it  will  be  a  matter  of 
little  interest  as  to  who  is  responsible  for  this 

^Saints'  Herald,  (R),  Vol.  I,  No.  i,  published  i860. 
*• "  Evidence  in  Temple  Lot  Case,"  Independence,  Mo.,  p. 
399.    Date  about  1895. 


228    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

doctrine.  However,  tlie  Eeorganized  Church, 
representing  a  body  of  people  numbering,  ap- 
proximately, 100,000,  have  staked  their  all  upon 
the  claim  that  polygamy  is  not  to  be  charged 
upon  Joseph  Smith,  the  Prophet,  and  the 
Church  under  his  leading. 

The  contention  of  the  Eeorganized  Church  is : 
That  the  "  Books  "  do  not  teach  polygamy.  Ref- 
erence is  made  to  the  "  Book  of  Mormon,"  which 
says : 

''Behold  David  and  Solomon  truly  had  many 
wives  and  concubines  which  thing  was  abominable 
before  me  .  .  .  there  shall  not  any  man  among 
you  have  save  it  be  one  wife  and  concubines  he  shall 
have  none :  For  I  the  Lord  delighteth  in  the  chastity 
of  women  and  whoredoms  are  an  abomination  be- 
fore me:  thus  saith  the  Lord  of  Hosts.  Wherefore 
this  people  shall  keep  my  commandments,  saith  the 
Lord  of  Hosts,  or  cursed  be  the  land  for  their 
sakes.''" 

So  much  of  this  statement  is  usually  quoted 
by  the  anti-polygamous  Mormon.  But  there  is 
a  clause  which  follows.    It  reads : 

*'For  if  I  will,  saith  the  Lord  of  Hosts,  raise  up 
seed  unto  me,  I  will  command  my  people :  otherwise 
they  shall  hearken  unto  these  things."    (Ibid.). 

In  the  'Arena  Magazine  for  !A^ugust,  1902, 
President  Joseph  Smith  of  the  Reorganized 

'* "  Book  oi  Mormon,"  Jacob  2 :  33-39. 


MOEMON  POLYGAMY  229 

Church  in  an  article  on  "  The  Origin  of  Ameri- 
can Polygamy,"  uses  the  above  quotation  omit- 
ting the  clause.  In  a  reply  by  President  Joseph 
F.  Smith  of  the  Utah  Church,  as  published  in 
the  Arena  for  November,  1902,  he  says : 

**The  quotation  of  that  clause  would  have  taken 
away  the  entire  ground  of  his  position.  Contin- 
uous and  added  revelation  is  one  of  the  fundamental 
doctrines  of  the  Church  established  by  Joseph 
Smith,  the  Prophet. 

Therefore,  the  notion  that,  because  plural  mar- 
riage was  not  taught  in  the  early  days  of  the  Church, 
it  was  not  declared  in  later  times,  is  a  fallacy,  and 
contrary  to  the  very  order  and  progress  that  are 
essential  features  of  the  body.  That  some  prin- 
ciples and  policies  of  the  Church,  even  in  the  days 
of  its  youth,  were  required  to  be  kept  back  for  a 
period  because  of  the  hostility  of  the  world,  is  in- 
disputable when  its  history  is  perused.''" 

A  further  explanation  of  this  clause  is  given 
by  a  Mormon  polygamist  as  follows : 

**God  did  not  abominate  David's  and  Solomon's 
taking  more  wives  than  one  each  .  .  .  He  abom- 
inated their  abusing  the  privileges  he  gave  them,  in 
taking  women  when  and  where  they  pleased  without 
consulting  him  in  the  matter.  And  in  order  that 
the  same  thing  might  not  prevail  on  the  American 
Continent,  as  they  did  at  Jerusalem,  the  Lord  gave  a 
general  commandment,  that  all  his  people  upon  it 
**  Arena,  November,  1902. 


230    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MORMONISM 

should  have  one  wife  each,  excepting  he  wished  to 
speedily  raise  up  a  people  unto  himself — then  He 
would  command  them ; 

Otherwise,  they  were  required  to  observe  the  one 
wife  system. ' ' " 

When  the  command  came  to  the  Mormons  to 
take  up  the  practice  of  the  doctrine,  as  it  did  in 
the  revelation  of  Joseph  Smith,  they  could  do  so 
with  perfect  consistency.  At  least  so  they  be- 
lieve. To  them  "  Polygamy  is  perfectly  consist- 
ent with  the  '  Book  of  Mormon.'  "  How  about 
the  "  Book  of  Doctrine  and  Covenants,'^  which 
says: 

''Inasmuch  as  this  Church  of  Christ  has  been  re- 
proached with  the  crime  of  fornication,  and  polyg- 
amy ;  we  declare  that  we  believe  that  one  man  should 
have  one  wife;  and  one  woman  but  one  husband, 
except  in  case  of  death  where  either  is  at  liberty  to 
marry  again."" 

The  polygamists  answer : 

**If  it  read,  *the  crimes  of  fornication  and  polyg- 
amy,' then  you  might  justly  have  said  that  polyg- 
amy was  designated  a  crime,  but  as  the  passage  now 
stands  you  cannot  reasonably  say  so.    .    .    . 

It  says  positively  that,  'one  man  should  have  one 
wife' — it  does  not  say  positively  that,  a  man  should 
not  have  more  than  one  wife,  but  it  does  say  posi- 

"  Millennial  Star,  Vol.  15,  p.  163. 

•*"  Doctrine  and  Covenants,"  (R),  111:3. 


MOEMON  POLYGAMY  231 

tively  that,  'one  woman  shall  have  but  one  hus- 
band.' 

No  doubt  you  can  now  see,  plainly,  that  the  doc- 
trine of  plurality  of  wives,  is  perfectly  consistent 
with  the  Doctrine  and  Covenants. '''^ 

The  Keorganized  Church,  in  attempting  to 
cast  unfavorable  reflection  upon  the  Utah 
Church,  in  charging  them  with  a  departure  from 
the  "  Books/'  may  be  a  little  surprised  to  find 
that  the  same  charge  was  made  against  the 
Church,  and  the  Prophet  Joseph,  some  time  be- 
fore his  death.    Note  the  following : 

*' At  the  rise  of  the  Church  we  had  full  faith  in  the 
Jewish  scriptures,  'Book  of  Mormon,'  'Doctrine  and 
Covenants'  ...  A  new  order  of  things  is  about 
to  be  established  which  will  come  in  contact  with 
our  former  statements  and  teachings  .  .  .  as  we 
have  hinted  at  the  spiritual  wife  system,  or  sealing 
covenant,  as  we  of  late  call  it,  this  privilege  is  not 
for  all  at  present  except  by  revelation,  and  we  who 
have  entered  into  this  covenant  have  to  act  cau- 
tiously as  the  Gentile  law  is  against  us    .    .     . 

The  revelation  is,  the  more  wives  and  children  a 
man  has  in  this  world,  the  more  honor  and  glory  he 
will  have  in  the  eternal  world.  They  will  sit  on 
thrones  and  have  dominion — creating  and  redeem-i 
ing  worlds.  .  .  .  Be  it  understood  this  marrying 
is  all  for  eternity.  But  when  we  find  ourselves  sur- 
rounded by  these  fair  virgins  .  .  .  What  is  to 
be  done?  Must  we  break  through  these  sectarian 
'^Millennial  Star^  Vol.  15,  p.  164. 


232    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

notions?  We  answer  yes!  "We  allow  the  privilege 
to  the  faithful  .  .  .  but  many  of  them  are  weak 
in  the  faith  giving  heed  to  former  teachings — say- 
ing they  are  law  abiding  men,  and  believing  in  the 
old  books  and  former  revelations. ' '  ^ 

This  statement  was  signed  "  By  Authority  of 
the  Twelve."  It  was  written  in  derision  by  some 
one  who  must  have  seen  a  copy  of  the  polyga- 
mous revelation,  as  it  shows  an  acquaintance 
with  its  teaching.  So,  the  departure,  if  de- 
parture it  was,  from  the  "Boolis"  began  at 
Kauvoo,  and  was  carried  on  in  the  continuance 
of  the  Church  in  Utah. 

In  the  face  of  all  these  facts,  who  dare  say  that 
Joseph  Smith,  the  Mormon  Prophet,  was  not  the 
instigator  of  Mormon  polygamy? 

From  the  Utah  Mormon  point  of  view  the  doc- 
trine came  in  by  falsehood  and  deceit  of  the 
foulest  kind.  All  the  years  from  1833  to  1852 
the  Mormons  were  accused  of  polygamy,  or 
something  akin  to  it.  During  all  these  years 
they  denied  it  in  every  solemn  manner  known  to 
honest  men,  and  after  1852  solemnly  admitted 
that  all  these  years  they  had  knowingly  lied. 

The  disposition  of  the  Reorganized  Church  at 
first  was  to  acknowledge  the  awful  facts ;  that  a 
revelation  had  been  received  by  the  Prophet; 
that  polygamy  was  the  means  or  cause  of  the 

*•  Warsaw  Signal,  May  8,  1844.    Files  in  New  York  Public 
Library. 


MOEMON  POLYGAMY  233 

Prophet^s  death  and  the  disruption  of  the 
Church.  As  time  went  on  and  the  movement 
grew,  and  the  older  men  who  knew  the  facts 
were  removed  by  death,  the  tremendous  diffi.- 
culty  of  making  a  moral  impression  out  of  such 
an  immoral  background  upon  the  world  pressed 
hard  upon  the  leaders.  To  bear  the  shame  of 
following  a  Prophet  guilty  of  the  heinous  sin  of 
teaching  and  practicing  polygamy  is  a  disgrace 
few  would  want  to  assume. 

Mr.  Heman  C.  Smith,  Church  Historian,  says : 

*' Believing  as  we  do  that  Joseph  Smith  was  in- 
strumental in  God's  hands  in  restoring  the  ancient 
gospel,  we  prefer  to  believe  that  he  remained  faith- 
ful and  pursued  the  paths  of  honor  and  virtue  unto 
the  end  of  his  life."" 

One  cannot  be  guided  in  judgment  upon  such 
a  matter  by  mere  preference.  The  facts  are  ac- 
cessible, and  by  them  we  must  be  guided. 

Polygamy  is  one  of  the  foulest  blots  upon  the 
pages  of  American  history.  It  revives  a  bar- 
barous practice  in  the  midst  of  a  Christian 
civilization;  it  turns  love  into  lust;  men  into 
despots  and  women  into  slaves;  it  desecrates 

Note.— On  pages  233-234,  Book  I,  of  "The  Historical 
Record,"  (U),  appears  the  names  of  twenty-seven  women 
who  claimed  to  be  the  spiritual  or  plural  wives  of  Joseph 
Smith  the  Prophet. 

"Pamphlet,  "Was  Joseph  Smith  a  Polygamist?"  (R). 


234    THE  FOUNDATIONS  OF  MOEMONISM 

the  family  hearth ;  it  is  contrary  to  the  laws  of 
our  physical  and  moral  being ;  it  is  a  sin  against 
society  and  a  crime  against  God.  One  poor  Mor- 
mon woman  said  of  her  experience  in  polygamy : 

*  *  I  have  never  seen  a  happy  day  or  hour  since  my 
husband's  second  marriage:  I  have  never  laid  down 
on  my  bed  at  night  without  drenching  my  pillow 
with  tears.'"" 

Jesus  warned  His  followers,  "  Beware  of  false 
Prophets,  which  come  to  you  in  sheep's  clothing, 
but  inwardly  they  are  ravening  wolves.  Ye 
shall  know  them  by  their  fruits." "'  Polygamy 
was  the  crowning  iniquity  of  all  the  iniquities 
perpetrated  by  Joseph  Smith,  and  this  fruit  of 
his  life  and  teaching  stamps  him  as  one  of  the 
vilest  of  the  false  Prophets  of  ancient  or  modern 
times. 

'8"  True  Origin  of  Mormon  Polygamy,"  p.  212. 
"  Matt.  7 :  15-16. 


xrv 

CONCLUSION 

IN  the  foregoing  pages  we  have,  very  briefly, 
set  forth  the  fundamental   facts  in  the 
teaching  and   practices   of   the  Mormon 
system. 

From  the  historical  point  of  view  we  have 
shown  that  there  is  a  necessity  for  a  careful  re- 
consideration of  the  sources  of  information; 
that  these  sources  have  been  edited  by  Mormon 
historians ;  that  Mormon  history  throughout  is 
bad  in  character. 

We  have  shown  serious  and  vital  defects  in 
the  sacred  books  of  this  new  religion.  This  is 
of  vital  consequence  on  account  of  the  fact  that 
all  Mormons  aflrm  that  the  truth  of  their  re- 
ligion depends  upon  the  successful  testing  of 
the  claims  of  these  books. 

We  have  examined  the  character  of  the 
Prophet  who  founded  this  religion  and  we  can- 
not escape  the  conviction  that  he  was  false  in 
his  pretensions,  grossly  immoral  in  his  ideals, 
wicked  and  malicious  in  his  purposes,  and  ut- 
terly unworthy  to  be  recognized  as  a  prophet  of 
Jehovah. 

235 


236  CONCLUSION 

In  our  treatment  of  Mormon  doctrines  we 
have  shown  that  there  is  one  part  prepared  for 
the  public  at  large  and  another  for  those  who 
have  accepted  the  system. 

The  Mormon  organization  is  nothing  less  than 
a  great  system  of  authority  that  moves  at  the 
command  of  the  Presidency  of  the  Church.  The 
various  attempts  to  carry  out  Zionistic  schemes 
were  mistaken  notions  resulting  in  signal  fail- 
ures, and  were  a  fruitful  means  of  the  exploita- 
tion of  the  people  by  the  leaders  of  the  Church. 

We  have  brought  to  light  the  significance  of 
the  revelations  of  the  Nauvoo  Expositor.  We 
have  shown  that  polygamy  was  begun  at  Nau- 
voo ;  that  it  was  taught  secretly  and  denied  pub- 
licly; that  Joseph  Smith  is  the  leading  person 
responsible  for  it. 

We  have  shown  why  the  State  of  Missouri  ex- 
pelled the  Mormons  in  1838.  This  is  very  im- 
portant in  view  of  the  place  Missouri  is  destined 
to  hold  in  the  future  of  Mormonism. 

After  a  faithful  consideration  of  the  Mormon 
and  non-Mormon  literature,  we  are  constrained 
to  ask :  What  false  charge  has  ever  been  made 
against  Mormonism? 

What  fearful  apprehension  on  the  part  of  the 
people  where  it  has  been  located  has  been  with- 
out foundation?  Can  such  a  faith  continue  its 
life  in  our  modern  world? 

It  came  forth  claiming  to  be  a  restoration  of 


CONCLUSION  237 

Christianity,  but  the  impression  it  has  made  is 
distinctively  anti-Christian.  It  is  remarkable  in 
how  many  characteristics  it  is  analogous  to 
Mohammedanism. 

At  Palmyra,  New  York,  where  it  arose,  it  has 
left  no  record  to  which  even  a  Mormon  could 
point  with  pride.  The  Christian  Churches  in 
that  vicinity  which  it  openly  condemned  are  still 
there  ministering  comfort  and  salvation  to  the 
people.'  What  valuable  contribution  has  Mor- 
monism  made  to  the  world?  Its  reclamation  of 
the  desert  lands  in  Utah  and  vicinity  and  its 
colonization  schemes  elsewhere  have  all  been 
purely  in  its  selfish  interest.  Its  aim  is  not  to 
make  the  world  better  but  to  make  it  Mormon. 
Its  missionary  propaganda  has  not  been  for  the 
benefit  of  the  nations,  or  the  localities  where  it 
has  been  conducted;  it  has  been  expressly  for 
the  purpose  of  gathering  out  recruits  to  add 
strength  to  the  Mormon  strongholds  in  the 
West. 

Hence  the  people  of  Mormonism  are  clannish 
in  character.  According  to  the  Mormon  pro- 
gram, their  "  Zion  "  should  long  since  have  been 
established ;  the  saints  gathered ;  the  wicked  des- 
troyed, and  the  world  come  to  its  end. 

Condemning  all  manifestations  of  Christian- 
ity, Mormonism  has  shown  itself  inconsistent  by 

*The  Brick  Presbyterian  Church  in  Palmyra  was  built 
in  1832, 


288  CONCLUSION 

adopting  many  of  the  worn  methods  of  Chris- 
tian workers;  its  members  sing  hymns  written 
by  Christians ;  its  Elders  preach,  quoting  from 
the  Bible  preserved  to  the  world  by  Christians. 
The  interpretations  they  have  made  of  the  teach- 
ings of  the  Bible  have,  in  many  instances,  been 
ridiculously  ignorant  and  disgusting  in  the  ex- 
treme.' 

Can  Mormonism  survive  under  the  light  of 
intelligence,  morality,  rational  religion,  and 
political  equality? 

We  have  little  hope  that  the  aged  devotees  of 
Mormonism  will  ever  consider  a  reconstruction 
of  their  religious  life.  Whatever  be  their  faith 
they  are  confirmed  in  it. 

For  the  young  and  rising  generations  we  have 
hope.  To  them  we  can  say  that  Christianity  is 
superior  to  Mormonism  on  the  basis  of  the  four- 
fold test  of  intelligence,  morality,  rational  re- 
ligion, and  political  equality. 

We  undertook  the  writing  of  this  book  in  the 

'  In  order  to  prove  that  America  is  the  place  whence  the 
"  Book  of  Mormon  "  is  to  come,  the  following  is  cited  by  a 
Mormon  elder :  "  The  Prophet  Isaiah  describes  in  a  graphic 
manner  the  Western  Continent :  *  Woe  to  the  land  shadowing 
with  wings,  which  is  beyond  the  rivers  of  Ethiopia'  (Isa. 
l8:  i).  First,  The  American  continent  is  in  the  form  of  a 
pair  of  wings.  Second,  It  lies  west,  or  beyond  the  rivers  of 
Ethiopia  from  where  the  prophet  had  his  abode  at  Jerusa- 
lem."—"  Palmyra  to  Independence,"  (R),  p.  6l.  Any  Bible 
student  should  know  this  refers  to  Egypt  and  to  its  well- 
known  symbol,  the  winged  sun  or  disk.  How  is  North 
America  shaped  like  a  wing?  When  did  America  send  forth 
vessels  of  "Bulrushes"?    See  Isa.  18:2. 


CONCLUSION  239 

belief  that  the  foundations  of  Mormonism  could 
and  should  be  shaken.  We  have  had  no  mali- 
cious purpose  in  this.  We  would  like  to  see  the 
faith,  the  energy  and  the  zeal  of  all  the  Mormon 
people  turned  to  a  higher  ideal.  We  believe 
there  is  a  better  foundation  and  we  would  like 
to  see  their  feet  placed  upon  it.  We  hope  that 
what  faith  the  Mormon  people  have  in  Jesus 
Christ  will  far  outweigh  all  their  loyalty  to 
their  Church  leaders  and  their  sacred  books,  re- 
gardless of  their  claims.  We  hope  the  Mormon 
people  will  be  able  to  overcome  the  prejudice 
which  from  childhood  has  been  instilled  in  their 
minds  against  all  Christian  Churches.  That 
prejudice  they  will  find  to  be  largely  due  to  mis- 
understanding and  misrepresentation. 

We  believe  that  most  of  the  Mormons  are 
thoroughly  devoted  to  what  they  believe  to  be 
true.  We  also  know  that  for  many  of  them  to 
accept  Mormonism  as  a  religion  required  a  cour- 
age that  was  almost  superhuman. 

If  in  the  message  and  disclosures  of  this  book 
there  comes  a  call  for  a  further  test  of  courage 
to  renounce  what  is  false  for  the  sake  of  that 
which  is  true,  let  us  hope  that  it  may  not  be 
wanting. 

The  truth  must  prevail,  although 

**one  dreads  dissent, 
And  fears  a  doubt  as  wrong.*' 


Bibliography 


Source  Material. 

Smith  (Joseph,  Junior). 

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Smith,  the  first  issue  in  book  form.  Published  by 
W.  W.  Phelps  &  Co.,  Zion,  Jackson  County,  Mo., 
1833. 

''Book  of  Mormon,"  the  first  edition  published  by 
E.  B.  Grandin,  for  the  author,  Palmyra,  N.  Y., 
1830.    Several  subsequent  editions. 

*'Book  of  Doctrine  and  Covenants,"  containing 
the  revelations  of  Smith,  compiled  by  Joseph 
Smith,  0.  Cowdery,  S.  Rigdon,  F.  G.  Williams, 
Proprietors,  Kirtland,  Ohio,  1835.  Several  sub- 
sequent editions. 

"History  of  Joseph  Smith,  Jr.,"  written  by  self. 
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lennial Star,  Manchester,  England,  1841  ff.  His- 
tory begins  Vol.  3,  p.  53,  August,  1842 — ends 
Vol.  5,  p.  189,  May,  1845.  Also  found  in  supple- 
ment to  Vol.  14,  Liverpool,  1852. 

"History  of  Joseph  Smith,  Jr.,"  in  The  Times 
and  Seasons,  edited  by  Joseph  Smith,  Jr.,  and 
John  Taylor,  Commerce,  111.  (i.e.,  Nauvoo),  No- 
vember, 1839,  to  November  1st,  1845.  History 
begins  Vol.  3,  No.  10,  p.  726. 

"Book    of    Abraham."    Translated    (?)     from 
Papyrus  found  in  the  Catacombs  of  Egypt,  by 
240 


BIBLIOGEAPHY  241 

Joseph  Smith,  Jr.  Published  in  The  Times  and 
Seasons,  Vol.  3,  pp.  701-706,  1841.  Also  in  MiU 
lennial  Star,  Vol.  19,  p.  164  fe. 

TJie  Evening  and  the  Morning  Star.  A  periodical 
published  by  W.  W.  Phelps  &  Co.,  Independence, 
Mo.,  1832-1833. 

Latter  Day  Saints'  Messenger  and  Advocate.  Ed- 
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The  Elders'  Journal.  A  periodical  edited  by  Joseph 
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*' Correspondence,  Orders,  etc.,  in  relation  to  the  Mor- 
mon Disturbances  in  Missouri."  Published  by 
order  of  the  State  Legislature  by  request  of  the 
Governor,  1841.     (Very  rare  and  important.) 

Nauvoo  Expositor.  Wm.  Law,  and  others.  One  is- 
sue only.  Nauvoo,  111.,  June  7,  1844.  An  expose 
of  the  evils  within  the  Mormon  Church.  Des- 
troyed by  order  of  the  Prophet  Smith.  A  period- 
ical, 4  pages. 

Messenger  and  Advocate.  A  periodical  issued  by 
the  Mormon  faction  under  Sidney  Eigdon,  Pitts- 
burgh, Pa.,  July  1,  1845— February,  1846. 

The  Warsaw  Signal.  A  country  newspaper  pub- 
lished at  Warsaw,  111.,  before  and  after  the 
trouble  with  the  Mormons,  1840  ff. 

Smith  (Lucy).  Mother  of  the  Prophet.  Biograph- 
ical Sketches  of  Joseph  Smith  and  his  progenitors 
for  many  generations.  297  pages.  Liverpool, 
1853.    Also  other  editions.    Piano,  1880. 


242  BIBLIOGRAPHY 

Spalding  (Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  F.  S.,  Episcopal  Bishop 
of  Utah).  A  pamphlet,  ** Joseph  Smith,  Jr.,  as 
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Tullidge  (E.  W.).  *'Life  of  Joseph  Smith,  the 
Prophet.''  545  pages.  New  York,  1878.  Other 
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Not  Special  Source  Material. 

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Day  Saints."  Edited  by  Joseph  Smith  and  He- 
man  C.  Smith.  A  Reorganized  Church  publica- 
tion.   Lamoni,  la.,  1901.    Vols.  1-4. 

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moni, la.,  1860  ff. 

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Whitmer  ( David) .  * '  An  Address  to  All  Believers. ' ' 
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Griffiths  (Gomer  T.).  *'An  Exegesis  of  the  Priest- 
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Church.    A  pamphlet.    Lamoni,  la.,  1913. 

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lishing Co.,  Cincinnati,  1914. 


BIBLIOGEAPHY  243 

'*Cumorah  Revisited  or  the  Book  of  Mormon  and 
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Kinney  (Bruce).  ''The  Islam  of  America — Mor- 
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ism."  Dodd  Mead  &  Co.,  New  York,  1902.  426 
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Call  (Lamoni) .  ' '  2000  Changes  in  the  Book  of  Mor- 
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Printed  in  tht  United  States  of  America 


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